Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-81) - Ascension to Pentecost

Dearest Goddaughter,

In the Diocese of Austin, the feast of the Ascension of our Lord (which is today) is transferred to Sunday. As we prepare our hearts to celebrate the Lord's Ascension this Sunday, I wanted to share this excerpt from the sermon of Saint Augustine, bishop, that struck me when I read it this morning in the Office of Readings (from the Liturgy of the Hours).

St. Augustine wrote, "Christ is now exalted above the heavens, but he still suffers on earth all the pain that we, the members of his body, have to bear." And so while Jesus ascended to heaven to prepare a room for us in his Father's house, Christ is very much united with us in our pain and suffering because we are members of his body and we can never be separated from him, the head of the body.

Jesus keeps his promise that he would never leave us orphans because, after his Ascension into heaven, he will send the Holy Spirit to be with us always. Moreover, Christ is with us in the Holy Eucharist. Therefore, let us always be hopeful people through our faith in God who loves always and is promises to be with us until the end of the age. So in times, of distress, let us call on the Holy Spirit to guide us to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who will show us the tender love and mercy of our Father in heaven.

Tomorrow (Friday), we will start the Novena to the Holy Spirit in preparation for Pentecost. In his homily last weekend, Fr. Charlie encouraged all of us to pray this Novena so that when we celebrate the birthday of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church on Pentecost Sunday, we can truly be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive the gifts of the Spirit so that we can "set the world on fire" with God's love. 

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: Acts 18:1-8 and Jn 16:16-20 (see below)

. . .

Jesus said to his disciples:

"A little while and you will no longer see me,

and again a little while later and you will see me."

So some of his disciples said to one another,

"What does this mean that he is saying to us,

'A little while and you will not see me,

and again a little while and you will see me,'

and 'Because I am going to the Father'?"

So they said, "What is this 'little while' of which he speaks?

We do not know what he means."

Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them,

"Are you discussing with one another what I said,

'A little while and you will not see me,

and again a little while and you will see me'?

Amen, amen, I say to you,

you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices;

you will grieve, but your grief will become joy."