Mass Readings:

A reading from the conclusion of the holy Gospel of Luke 24:46-63

Jesus said to his disciples: "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Then 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. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.

REFLECTION: "And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

Jesus Christ's glorious exaltation culminates on Ascension Thursday, exactly 40 days after Easter.

Through the suffering and death of Jesus we were ransomed from the claws of Satan. The Resurrection was His victory over sin and death. And on Ascension Thursday God the Father lifted up His glorified Son to heaven. This was the end of Jesus' earthly work of Redemption. The change in the apostles has started to take place--they returned to Jerusalem with great joy and praised God continuously in the temple. They were certainly different. They worshipped Him and they believed now that their Master was the Messiah.

And now He commissions us as well to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth!!!

Are we up to the task? Or do we wear the shield of fear--fear of loss, failure, insecurity, anxiety or fear of serving God? Do we love as Jesus loved us? Jesus said, "And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." We anxiously await the coming of the Holy Spirit to be rid of this fear.

PAPA will be praying the Dekaena starting today May 30, Ascension Thursday. The Dekaena is a 10 day meditation to the Holy Spirit. It begins 10 days before Pentecost on Ascension Thursday. These 10 days are a time of preparation for us to receive the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray together with Our Lady and the Apostles and meditate daily on St. Alphonsus Ligouri's Dekaena to the Holy Spirit. May our priests be emboldened by the promise of God the Father.

Devotion can be found on our website papamio.org

God Bless You.