Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, 2025

Some years ago, someone approached and asked me to bless a pendant on their necklace. The piece of jewelry was in the shape of a star, and it had a little depth to it; it wasn’t flat. And, because it wasn’t a Christian symbol, I asked what it was. She said, “It’s my loved one’s ashes.”

Internally, I was a little shocked but I responded very politely and gently saying, “I’m sorry. I’m not able to bless that but I’d encourage you to bury that at a cemetery when you can.”


…The fact is, in one-hundred years, no one is going to know what’s in that necklace; no one is gonna know what’s in that vase. And it will be put in an attic, or a basement, or, sadly, thrown out: That’s not what we want for our loved ones. And that’s not how we show respect for the fact that our bodies will not only be resurrected, but alive again in Heaven.


…I share this story because the ascension of Jesus highlights this fact: Followers of Jesus will literally follow where Jesus has gone before, which includes his suffering and death, but we also will follow in his resurrection and go where he ascended to with our bodies just as Jesus is in Heaven with His body.


…And, despite our mistakes, or our misunderstandings, or our purposeful ignoring of what the church teaches, Jesus has tremendous patience for us, and he demonstrates this in our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles: Jesus’ disciples ask him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel…” as if they didn’t hear a thing he was saying the past three years they were with Him.


Hindsight is 20/20 because it’s super clear to us that Jesus did not come to kick the Romans out of Israel like his disciples still thought he was going to do but, if Jesus wasn’t so patient, he could’ve easily screamed at the disciples with frustration.


But Jesus is so patient with them and us; so patient…because he’s filled with love for us. I was just thinking about how patient He’s been with me. Jesus has brought me so far, and he’s been so good to me even though He doesn’t have to be.


And Jesus is the same for all of us: He is so patient. And his patience is in hopes that we repent and come closer to him.



Scripture readings for this day: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052925-Ascension.cfm

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