SPECIAL EDITION: LET US PRAY

Jesus led the apostels out near Bethany, and with hands upraised, blessed them. As he blessed, he left them, and was taken up to heaven. Our dearest mother mary, we pray for the virtue of hope. They were still gazing up into the heavens when two men dressed i white stood besde them. "Men of Galilee," the said, "why do you stand here looking up at the skies? This Jesus who has been taken from you, will return, just as you saw him go up into the heavens."


In His Ascension, jesus has been exalted at the right hand of the Father. There we place ou rhope focuisng on jesus' victory over sin and death. He is our Advocate with the Father pleading on our behalf and interceding for us. Jesus is God's mercy in deed. Through baptism, we participate in all that he gained for us through His life and death. Through Christ, with Him, and in Him there are no "losers." His is the gift of life that transforms sinners into winners. The war is won! The battle is over! With our hope in Jesus, we receive the grace of strength to fight old battles anew. With the war won, we have only to fight our little daily skirmishes and pray to remaind one with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

meditation: Fr. Roger Hall, O.F.M.