Power to change the world

Ascension Sunday
Photo courtesy of: Fr. JC Maximillian

Speaking before the graduating class of '99 in Loyola Marymount University, Fr. Thomas O'Malley, SJ said something that gave tremendous consolation to the graduates. He said, "You are now empowered to make a change in the world through your chosen profession." Not that we are thinking about money and getting rich all the time, which is the main reason why we went to school, he gave us a new perspective, a new way of seeing education - as empowerment, to make a change, to bring healing, and to bring life to a wounded set of people living in darkness, in selfishness, and sin.

Today is the feast of the Ascension, a time when Jesus ascended to heaven, body and soul to the awe and wonderment of many. Jesus said these beautiful words, "All power in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." He is not only talking to the disciples, to the Twelve, and to the Blessed Mother. He is talking to us. "The disciple" is a generic term to any who has heard, seen, and believed in Jesus as the Son of God. It is directed to each of us to "make a change" to a wounded society by living out the gospel. Live out and preach the gospel. Share them to your children so that they can share them to the next generation. Let our lives ascend as Jesus did.