blessed feast of the ascension

  All women raising children in one way or another, all women spiritually guiding others on the “path of life” (Psalm 16:11), mothers of all types, we salute you! We give thanks for the gift of yourselves, for opening the treasures of your hearts. This Mothers Day, we carry you in a special way in our prayer. In fact, our prayer is that of St. Paul in this Sunday’s second reading (Ephesians 1:15-23). What more could we want for mothers?
 
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
 
Now, this sounds fine and dandy. But, what if I have not had a good experience of mothering—on the receiving or the giving end? And so, what if I am not “feelin’ it”? Well, there is still an opportunity to celebrate—in hopeful fashion. Mothers Day need not simply be a walk down happy memory lane or a celebration of happy mothering. Mothers Day can be lived in great hope with respect to all mothers. “Hope for what?” you may ask. We can prayerfully seek refuge in God in Whom there is always a bond with mothers. When we pray for someone, we love them. When we pray for mothers with whom we have difficulty, we love them. If so, our hearts connect with them, in silence, and healing can take place. Happiness follows love. If prayer is an act of love, prayer leads to happiness.
 
How helpful to know and how fitting to declare on our parochial “Titular Feast”, our “name day”: Feast of the Ascension for Church of the Ascension (and St. Agnes!). Dare we believe that Jesus shares with us the endless blessings of His Ascension? It is divine love that attracts Jesus’ body into heaven. It is this divine love that Jesus’ shares with us—and, in particular, with mothers.
 
And, let us not forget Mary, help of mothers, our spiritual mother, guiding us on the “path of life”.
 
Happy Mothers Day!
Blessed Feast of the Ascension!
 
Yours in our Ascended Lord,
 
Fr. Dominique
fellow-pilgrim