Many blessings were given to us, but they’re all down here on earth

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

“Looking Ahead” is a reflection on the Sunday readings, for the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

Let’s entertain the thought. What if Jesus had not ascended to the Father — that is, left the world, and left us? Would things be any different? Would he be in charge of everything, and we would just be following orders?

If he did not go, would we ever have developed our self-identity, our sense of mission, our willingness to move forward, take risks, and to go out there with the message of Jesus Christ?

We talk about the mother bird pushing the baby out of the nest so that the baby will learn to fly. If the baby never leaves the nest, will it ever soar? One might conclude that in this case, it was Jesus who left the nest, left us alone; but then he filled us with a powerful gift of the Holy Spirit so that we would be energized, inner-directed, strengthened, blessed, made holy, revived, and filled with peace.

So many gifts; so many blessings were given to us, all deep within our spirit. The question got asked, “Why are you standing there looking at the sky?”

Our answers are not up in the sky. No, they are very much here on the earth. They are within us. They are a part of us and within our spirit. We don’t have to look elsewhere. In fact, we must learn to look within, listen within, feel within, reason within, and do so together as one.

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,” is the direction that was given by the Lord.

How appropriately we pray —

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,
and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Quote of the week |
“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.” — Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962).