The 3 P's of the Ascension

From the Catholic Liturgy for Ascension Sunday, May 13, 2018. Acts 1:1-11, Mk 16:15-20. Theme: The 3 P’s of the Ascension

Jesus’ parting words, his farewell instructions that we heard in today’s first reading are vitally important to us today.  He spoke of God’s Promise of the Holy Spirit, of the power the disciples would receive once the Spirit fell upon them, and how they would give witness to Him with this power once the day of Pentecost came.  Those very words are spoken to each one of us as well and we can make them real and meaningful in our lives as Christians, if we remember those three key terms: Promise, Power, Pentecost.

PROMISE.  In the Old Testament God Promised  that one day he would pour out and immerse his people in the Holy Spirit, and that this immersion would make us spiritually new people, with a new way of living, a new way of looking ta life, a new way of being and loving. That’s what Jesus was referring to when he said, “you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”  The word ‘baptized’ means “to be immersed in something, to be spiritually cleansed, purified and made new.”  That happened to each one of us at our baptism and is meant to be lived out every day, if our hearts are open and eager for this Promised Gift.

POWER. We all know what power means. It is the ability, energy and strength to do something beyond our normal capacities.  So, why will the Holy Spirit give us this power? What are we supposed to do with it?  We find the answer in Jesus’ words that we are to be His witnesses. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus gives those who trust in Him the ability to work signs and wonders in His Name, so as to show how faith in Him can change lives. He tells us this in today’s Gospel when He says at his Ascension that signs will accompany those who believe…they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover….”

PENTECOST.  Jesus said that this power and witness mission would take place on and after the day we call Pentecost, which is the third P to remember, because Jesus wants each one of us to have a personal Pentecost in our own lives. He wants to make God’s Promise real in each of our lives.  He wants to pour out the power of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives.  He wants to make each one of us his witness among those with whom we live, work and socialize.

Perhaps you have trouble believing that this Promise and this Power apply to you and to me? Maybe it all sounds too incredible or like something reserved just for canonizable saints? That’s what Andrew Laubacher thought as well. He grew up in Ventura and was a typical southern California guy. He attended Catholic grade school then begged to be sent to public high school so that he would not have to “deal with” Catholic rules.  He was a surfer, partier, and in trouble with the law. But Andrew had a conversion experience on a retreat and his experience that I am going to share with you happened just a few years ago when he was 22 years old.  He now travels the world as a musician and lay Catholic speaker giving witness to Jesus Christ.  Let me tell you his true story. You can confirm this story online and visit his website if you wish www.a-lob.com

(If you want to hear the story you need to listen to the audio homily)

Because of those 3 P’s (Promise, Power and Pentecost) Andrew’s life has been totally changed, utterly transformed.  Jesus now wants to do the same for you and for me…and through today’s liturgy he calls us to spend this coming week between today’s Ascension Sunday and next week’s Pentecost Sunday in prayer and pondering, asking for that baptism in the Holy Spirit and opening our hearts to the power that it brings for his glory and honor.