7th Sunday of Easter

by Fr. Samuel Aliba  |  05/29/2025  |  Pastor's Letter

My Dearly Beloved in Christ;

It has been 40 days since we celebrated the Solemnity of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from the dead. Since then, He has been appearing to His Disciples and speaking to them about the kingdom of God. Eventually, the time came for Him to return to His Father in heaven from whence He came. It is this event of His return to the Father that we celebrate this weekend as the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.

Ordinarily, this Solemnity is celebrated on Thursday, the 40th day after Easter Sunday and 10 days before Pentecost. However, owing to the significance of the Feast, the Church allows it to be celebrated on the Sunday following Ascension Thursday to allow a larger participation. This event of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven is a historical event that is recorded in Scriptures. We read from the first Scriptural reading this Sunday that; “…When He had said this, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight” (Acts. 1: 9). Also, the Evangelist, Luke, tells us in today’s Gospel that “… He led them out as far as Bethany, raised His hands, and blessed them. As He blessed them, He parted from them and was taken up to heaven” (24:50-51).

However, before Jesus ascended to heaven, He instructed His disciples not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father. (Acts 1:4). This promise of the Father that He speaks about, is the Holy Spirit; the third Person of the Blessed Trinity who descended upon the Apostles on Pentecost Sunday. Hence, these post Ascension days should be a period of prayers as it was for the early Church as we await the renewal and out pouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday. Furthermore, before His ascension, Jesus also told them not to worry about the future but focus on spreading the Gospel. He said to them; “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel” (Mark 16:15). This is an all-important task, and all hands must be on deck to accomplish it.

Dearly beloved; the Solemnity of the Ascension invigorates our hope in the sharing of Christ’s glory when returns. While we wait upon that day, we should look forward to the things that are above, that is, things in the heavenly world. In the words of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, he says; “Had Christ remained on earth, sight would have taken the place of Faith” He continues; “In Heaven, there will be no faith because His followers will see; there will be no hope because they will possess; but there will be love, for love endures forever”. Until then; Let love lead! Peace be with you!

- Fr. Samuel Aliba