Our readings for this Ascension Sunday are here. (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051224.cfm). So for most of Eastertide (through Pentecost), the first reading will have been from the Acts of the Apostles, and the gospel reading mostly from St John’s account. Note that today’s gospel is from the primary Cycle B gospel, the Gospel according to Saint Mark.
Again, these are the poem, my notes, and interpretations of Fr Dennis’ homily from the Mass of:
- May 13, 2018 10AM
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The poem Fr Dennis references is:
- Morning Poem by Mary Oliver on May 13, 2018 Cycle B
In 2018, we reflected on —
something wonderful, I’m sure — but I must have missed that Mass. No notes! So the following are my reflections from the scripture, and the poem he selected.
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The Mary Oliver poem captures one of the truths of our faith with “Every morning the world is created.”
The second reading(s) have language about all things beneath His feet, so He is the head of the church (Second Reading Option A) and “What does ‘he ascended’ on high mean except that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth? // The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.” (Second Reading Option B).
These scripture lines resonate with God’s reach, expanse, and presence across and through what we consider “opposites.”
The second half of the Mary Oliver poem captures this sense of how Creation encompasses us.
“If it is your nature // to be happy // you will swim away along the soft trails //
for hours, your imagination // alighting everywhere.
….
And if your spirit // carries within it //
the thorn // that is heavier than lead — // if it’s all you can do // to keep on trudging
… //
there is still // somewhere deep within you // a beast shouting that the earth //
is exactly what it [your body/your created self] wanted
…
whether or not // you have ever dared to be happy, //
whether or not // you have ever dared to pray.”
From his Cycle C homily, D2 had offered Ascension as a day to rejoice for Jesus! His work is finished, and he’s going home AND being with us eternally, just not in the same way as he was in his human-divine life on Earth.
So whether you are starting today from a place of contentment or carrying a “thorn heavier than lead,” get out into Creation today and revel in the joy and happiness of our friend and Ascended Savior, and let him keep you in contentment, companion you as you are in His joy, and/or lift you up.
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If you’re working all day and can’t get outside to see the daytime wonders of Creation, look out tonight … just about anywhere on the planet it seems! This article in space.com has a wonderful selection from images all over the world of a major solar event that reached the Earth yesterday and again tonight (Saturday), at least. Solar events are categorized, and we are experiencing a G5 event (on a scale from G1 to G5).
One of the largest solar flares ever is creating an enormous range of night sky colors and shapes. The aurora borealis and aurora australis seem to have all kinds of hot pinks, oranges, raging purples, bright greens in sheets, flares, ribbons, and more. The above linked article has photos from throughout the world.
I’ve included a photo taken by Sanka Vidanagama / AFP in South Carolina. Even living in the north, I can count on one hand the times I’ve witnessed the northern lights (living in Michigan and its green-giving cloudy skies doesn’t help!). 🙂 So I found myself delighted that so many who might rarely have even the opportunity to do so are having the northern (or southern) lights delivered direct to their door, so to speak.
A scientist in the linked article above offered that even if you yourself are not seeing the colors, take a photo with a high quality phone camera or the like — the cameras are often better at capturing the twilight and dark sky colors than the human eye.
I love that a very big “we” are receiving “night lights” throughout the world (with sympathy for the workers having to repair some of the at-risk infrastructure). I’m also grateful God is giving us, particularly on the North American continent, so many awe-inducing things to share (a total eclipse, night lights, cicadas, …) this spring at a time when we’re struggling to see our common humanity, to see the shared Divinity Jesus sacrificed so much to give us.
And so I “dare to pray” across day and night, earth and sky, heaven and hell in faith that our God is waiting to Love us in every place, every time, every moment.
The Surest Sign 