I. THE ASCENSION:
Embracing the Promise

These readings from Acts and Ephesians point to Jesus returning to the Father, his triumph, and his continued presence and power through the Holy Spirit.

1. Trusting in God’s Timing: Jesus told his apostles, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:7).
   • Do I worry excessively about the future, trying to control things that are beyond my power?
   • Am I content with God’s plan, even when it is unfolding in ways I do not understand or at a pace that is slower than I would like?
   • Do I often focus on the small details and lose sight of the bigger spiritual picture?
2. Welcoming the Spirit: Acts reminds us that we are to receive “power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8).
   • Do I actively seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in my daily decisions and actions?
   • Am I open to the gifts the Holy Spirit wants to give me, and am I a good steward of them?
   • Am I receptive to the “wisdom and revelation” that the Father gives, allowing the eyes of my heart to be enlightened (Ephesians 1:17-18)?
3. Living in Hope: Ephesians speaks of the “hope to which he has called you” and the “glorious inheritance among the saints” (Ephesians 1:18).
   • Does my daily life reflect a deep and abiding hope in Christ’s ultimate victory and the promise of eternal life?
   • Do I get easily discouraged by the challenges and difficulties I face, forgetting the power and presence of Christ in my life?
   • Am I grateful for my inheritance as a child of God, or do I take it for granted?

II. THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST:
Recognizing His Sovereignty

These readings, especially from Ephesians and Matthew, celebrate the supreme authority of Jesus Christ over all things and in the Church.

1. Seeking Spiritual Wisdom: Do I find myself seeking a “spirit of wisdom and revelation” so that I can know God better (Ephesians 1:17)?
   • Is getting to know the Lord a priority for me, above all other knowledge?
   • How often do I engage in spiritual practices (like reading the Scriptures, praying, receiving the Sacraments, or service to others) that are designed to help me grow in my understanding and love for God?
2. Appreciating Christ’s Power: Ephesians describes the “immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:19).
   • Do I truly believe that Jesus has “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18)?
   • How does this belief translate into a sense of confidence and courage in my daily life?
   • Do I tend to rely on my own strength and resources, or do I trust in the power of Christ to work in and through me?
3. Recognising Christ’s Headship: Christ is “the head over all things for the church” (Ephesians 1:22).
   • Do I respect the authority of the Church as the “body of Christ, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:23)?
   • How does my relationship with my parish and the wider Church reflect my love and commitment to Christ?
   • Do I contribute to the Church’s mission, or am I a passive observer?

III. THE GREAT COMMISSION:
Carrying the Mission

Matthew’s Gospel ends with the powerful command from Jesus to go and make disciples of all nations, to baptize them, and to teach them his commandments.

1. Sharing the Good News: Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
   • Am I a credible witness of my faith to others? Do my words, actions, and attitude draw people closer to Christ?
   • Have I shared the joy and hope of the Gospel with anyone in the past week, month, or year?
   • Am I mindful of the need for evangelization in my family, workplace, and community?
2. Living Out the Sacramental Life: We are to be “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
   • How does my own baptismal call shape my life?
   • Do I live as a person who has been set apart for God and is called to holiness?
   • Am I conscious of my duty to support and guide others (especially children and godchildren) in their sacramental journey?
3. Keeping Christ’s Commandments: We are to be “teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20).
   • How familiar am I with the teachings of Jesus, as they are recorded in the Scriptures?
   • Do I strive to keep his commandments, especially the great command to love God and to love my neighbor?
   • Where do I fall short in my obedience to Christ, and what am I doing to address these areas in my life?
4. Trusting in Christ’s Presence: Jesus promises us, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
   • Do I truly believe and draw strength from this promise of Christ’s constant presence in my life?
   • Am I aware of his presence in times of joy, in times of sorrow, and in the everyday moments of my life?
   • How does this belief influence my prayer and my relationship with others?

The Ascension is not a story of departure; it’s a story of commissioning. Christ’s work on earth concludes with his final command, the Great Commission, which becomes the charter for the entire Church. He sends his disciples – who are still human, still ‘doubting’ even as they worship – to the ends of the earth.

And He gives them the promise that makes this impossible mission possible: ‘Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.’ The Ascension does not mean that Jesus has left; it means that His presence is no longer localized in one body, but is now universal, available to “all nations” through the work of His Church. 

The deacon is, in a unique way, a man of this Great Commission. His vocation is a direct ‘yes’ to the command to ‘Go.’ As St. Francis Xavier, the great missionary, prayed, ‘Lord, I am here!  What do you want of me?’ The deacon’s life is this prayer in action, keeping the Church faithful to her outward-looking, ‘sending’ God. 

AT MASS

The Ministry of “Go” (At Mass) 

The deacon’s liturgical role is to perpetually echo this command to ‘Go.’ He stands at the threshold, connecting the worship of the ‘mountain’ (the altar) to the mission in the nations of the world. 

• The Herald of the Commission: When the deacon proclaims this Gospel, he is the voice of the Risen Lord issuing the command anew. He speaks the ‘Go…’ to the assembly, reminding them that their worship is incomplete until it becomes mission. 

• Minister of Baptism: The deacon is an ordinary minister of the very sacrament Christ commands: ‘…baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’ Every time he stands at the font, the deacon is a direct agent of the Great Commission, ‘making a new disciple.’ 

• The Great Dismissal: The deacon’s entire liturgical function is summed up in the dismissal. He is the one who sends the Church. His words, ‘Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord,’ or ‘Go in peace,’ are the living voice of Christ from the mountain. He ascends the steps of the sanctuary, receives the Word, and then descends to send the people out into the world. 

IN THE PARISH

The Ministry of Teaching (In the Parish)

Christ’s command is twofold: ‘baptizing’ and ‘teaching them to observe all that I have commanded.’ The deacon is a primary minister of this teaching. 

• Teaching from the World: As a man typically with a family and a secular job, the deacon is the Church’s missionary in the midst of the nations. His teaching is not just in the homily; it’s his witness in the workplace, his integrity in his family, and his presence in the community. He shows the parish how the Gospel is observed in daily life. 

• The Catechist: The deacon’s work in the RCIA, adult faith formation, and marriage and baptismal preparation is the work of making disciples. He is the patient teacher who, like Christ with the doubting disciples, walks with those who are learning, instructing them in the faith. 

• “Lord, I am here!”: The deacon’s parish life is a constant ‘yes’ to the question, ‘What do you want of me?’ He is the Church’s man of availability, the go-to servant who makes the Church’s mission of care a present reality. 

AT THE MARGINS

The Ministry of Always (At the Margins) 

The Great Commission is fuelled by the Great Promise: ‘I am with you always.’ The deacon’s ministry of diakonia is the most tangible, living proof of this promise.

• The ‘I Am with You’ Made Flesh: The deacon is sent to the ‘ends of the earth’ in his own community – to the hospital, the prison, the home of the shut-in, the shelter. His presence isthe fulfillment of Christ’s promise. He is the living sign that the Church has not forgotten that Christ is still with the most lonely, the most forgotten, and the most broken. 

• The Small Ascension: The deacon’s service is a small ascension. He remains rooted on earth, in the messy, tangible realities of human need, but his every act of service lifts hearts toward heaven. By feeding the hungry, he lifts their dignity. By comforting the grieving, he lifts their hope. 

• Rooted on Earth, Pointing to Heaven: The deacon’s ministry is the perfect image of the Ascension. He stands with his feet on the ground of the world, but his arms are stretched out in service, and his voice is always pointing upward, guiding the ‘nations’ he serves toward the glory of the Father. 

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Alabama

• One Voice (Diocese of Birmingham)
• The Catholic Week (Archdiocese of Mobile)

Alaska

• The North Star Catholic (Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau)
• The Alaskan Shepherd (Diocese of Fairbanks)
• Missionary Disciples (Diocese of Fairbanks)

Arizona

• Voice of the Southwest (Diocese of Gallup)
• The Catholic Sun (Diocese of Phoenix)
• New Outlook (Diocese of Tucson)

Arkansas

• Arkansas Catholic (Diocese of Little Rock)

California

• Angelus Magazine | DIGITAL (Archdiocese of Los Angeles)
• The Catholic Voice | DIGITAL (Diocese of Oakland)
• The Catholic Herald | DIGITAL (Diocese of Sacramento)
• Orange County Catholic (Diocese of Orange)
• Catholic Herald (Diocese of Sacramento)
• Inland Catholic Byte (Diocese of San Bernardino)
• The Southern Cross | DIGITAL (Diocese of San Diego)
• Catholic San Francisco (Archdiocese of San Francisco)
• San Francisco Católico (Archdiocese of San Francisco)
• The Valley Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of San Jose)

Colorado

• The Colorado Catholic Herald (Diocese of Colorado Springs)
• Denver Catholic (Archdiocese of Denver)

Connecticut

• Fairfield County Catholic (Diocese of Bridgeport)
• The Catholic Transcript | DIGITAL (Archdiocese of Hartford)
• Four County Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of Norwich)

Delaware

• The Dialog (Diocese of Wilmington)

Florida

• Florida Catholic | E-EDITIONS (Archdiocese of Miami; Dioceses of Orlando, Palm Beach, Pensacola–Tallahassee, St. Augustine, Saint Petersburg, Venice)

Georgia

• The Georgia Bulletin (Archdiocese of Atlanta)
• Southern Cross (Diocese of Savannah)

Hawaii

• Hawaii Catholic Herald (Diocese of Honolulu)

Idaho

• Idaho Catholic Register (Diocese of Boise)

Illinois

• The Messenger (Diocese of Belleville)
• Chicago Catholic (Archdiocese of Chicago)
• Catolico (Archdiocese of Chicago)
• Christ is Our Hope (Diocese of Joliet)
• The Catholic Post (Diocese of Peoria)
• The Observer (Diocese of Rockford)
• Catholic Times (Diocese of Springfield)

Indiana

• The Message (Diocese of Evansville)
• Today’s Catholic News (Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend)
• Northwest Indiana Catholic (Diocese of Gary)
• The Criterion (Archdiocese of Indianapolis)
• The Catholic Moment | DIGITAL (Diocese of Lafayette)

Iowa

• The Catholic Messenger (Diocese of Davenport)
• The Catholic Mirror | DIGITAL (Diocese of Des Moines)
• The Witness (Archdiocese of Dubuque)
• The Lumen (Diocese of Sioux City)

Kansas

• Southwest Kansas Register (Diocese of Dodge City)
• The Leaven (Archdiocese of Kansas City)
• The Register | DIGITAL (Diocese of Salina)
• Catholic Advance (Diocese of Wichita)
• Avance Católico (Diocese of Wichita)

Kentucky

• Messenger (Diocese of Covington)
• Cross Roads | DIGITAL (Diocese of Lexington)
• The Record | DIGITAL (Archdiocese of Louisville)
• Western Kentucky Catholic (Diocese of Owensboro)

Louisiana

• Church Today (Diocese of Alexandria)
• The Catholic Commentator (Diocese of Baton Rouge)
• Bayou Catholic (Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux)
• Clarion Herald (Archdiocese of New Orleans)
• The Catholic Connection | DIGITAL (Diocese of Shreveport)

Maryland / Washington, DC

• The Catholic Review (Archdiocese of Baltimore)
• Catholic Standard (Archdiocese of Washington)
• El Pregonero (Archdiocese of Washington)

Massachusetts

• The Pilot (Archdiocese of Boston)
• The Anchor (Diocese of Fall River)
• SOPHIA | DIGITAL (Diocese of Springfield)
• The Catholic Free Press | DIGITAL (Diocese of Worcester)

Michigan

• Detroit Catholic (Archdiocese of Detroit)
• FAITH along Michigan’s 45th Parallel | DIGITAL (Diocese of Gaylord)
• Faith Grand Rapids (Diocese of Grand Rapids)
• The Good News (Diocese of Kalamazoo)
• FAITH (Diocese of Lansing)
• The U.P. Catholic (Diocese of Marquette)
• Great Lakes Bay | DIGITAL (Diocese of Saginaw)

Minnesota

• Our Northland Diocese (Diocese of Crookston)
• The Northern Cross (Diocese of Duluth)
• The Prairie Catholic (Diocese of New Ulm)
• Central Minnesota Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of Saint Cloud)
• The Catholic Spirit (Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis)
• The Courier | DIGITAL (Diocese of Winona-Rochester)

Mississippi

• Gulf Pine Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of Biloxi)
• Mississippi Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of Jackson)

Missouri

• Catholic Missourian | DIGITAL (Diocese of Jefferson City)
• The Catholic Key | DIGITAL (Diocese of Kansas City–Saint Joseph)
• The Mirror (Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau)
• St. Louis Review (Archdiocese of St. Louis)
• Catholic St. Louis | DIGITAL (Archdiocese of St. Louis)

Montana

• The Harvest (Diocese of Great Falls–Billings)

Nebraska

• West Nebraska Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of Grand Island)
• Southern Nebraska Register (Diocese of Lincoln)
• The Catholic Voice (Archdiocese of Omaha)

Nevada

• Desert Clarion (Diocese of Las Vegas)
• High Desert Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of Reno)

New Hampshire

• Parable | DIGITAL (Diocese of Manchester)

New Jersey

• Catholic Star Herald (Diocese of Camden)
• The Catholic Spirit | DIGITAL (Diocese of Metuchen)
• The Catholic Advocate (Archdiocese of Newark)
• The Beacon | DIGITAL (Diocese of Paterson)
• The Monitor (Diocese of Trenton)

New Mexico

• Voice of the Southwest (Diocese of Gallup)
• Agua Viva (Diocese of Las Cruces)
• People of God (Archdiocese of Santa Fe)

New York

• The Evangelist (Diocese of Albany)
• The Tablet (Diocese of Brooklyn)
• The Catholic Union / The Catholic Union and Times (Diocese of Buffalo)
• Western New York Catholic (Diocese of Buffalo)
• The Good Newsroom (Archdiocese of New York)
• North Country Catholic (Diocese of Ogdensburg)
• Catholic Courier (Diocese of Rochester)
• El Mensajero Católico (Diocese of Rochester)
• The Long Island Catholic (Diocese of Rockville Centre)
• The Catholic Sun (Diocese of Syracuse)

North Carolina

• Catholic News Herald (Diocese of Charlotte)
• NC Catholics | DIGITAL (Diocese of Raleigh)

North Dakota

• Dakota Catholic Action | DIGITAL (Diocese of Bismarck)
• New Earth Magazine | DIGITAL (Diocese of Fargo)

Ohio

• The Catholic Telegraph (Archdiocese of Cincinnati)
• Northeast Ohio Catholic (Diocese of Cleveland)
• Catholic Times | DIGITAL (Diocese of Columbus)
• Steubenville Register (Diocese of Steubenville)
• The Catholic Echo (Diocese of Youngstown)

Oklahoma

• Sooner Catholic | DIGITAL (Archdiocese of Oklahoma City)
• Eastern Oklahoma Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of Tulsa)

Oregon

• Catholic Sentinel / El Centinela (Diocese of Baker / Archdiocese of Portland)
• The Diocesan Chronicle (Diocese of Baker / Archdiocese of Portland)
• Harvest | DIGITAL (Diocese of Baker / Archdiocese of Portland)

Pennsylvania

• The A.D. Times | DIGITAL (Diocese of Allentown)
• Proclaim TV! | DIGITAL (Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown)
• The Catholic Accent | DIGITAL (Diocese of Greensburg)
• The Catholic Witness | DIGITAL (Diocese of Harrisburg)
• Catholic Philly (Archdiocese of Philadelphia)
• Pittsburgh Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of Pittsburgh)
• The Catholic Light (Diocese of Scranton)

Rhode Island

• Rhode Island Catholic (Diocese of Providence)
• El Católico de Rhode Island (Diocese of Providence)

South Carolina

• The Catholic Miscellany | DIGITAL (Diocese of Charleston)

South Dakota

• West River Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of Rapid City)
• The Bishop’s Bulletin | DIGITAL (Diocese of Sioux Falls)

Tennessee

• East Tennessee Catholic (Diocese of Knoxville)
• The West Tennessee Catholic (Diocese of Memphis)
• Faith West Tennessee (Diocese of Memphis)
• Catholic Awakenings | DIGITAL (Diocese of Nashville)

Texas

• The West Texas Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of Amarillo)
• Catholic Spirit (Diocese of Austin)
• East Texas Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of Beaumont)
• South Texas Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of Corpus Christi)
• The Texas Catholic (Diocese of Dallas)
• Revista Católica (Diocese of Dallas)
• The Rio Grande Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of El Paso)
• North Texas Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of Fort Worth)
• Texas Catholic Herald | DIGITAL (Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston)
• West Texas Angelus | DIGITAL (Diocese of San Angelo)
• Today’s Catholic Newspaper | DIGITAL (Archdiocese of San Antonio)
• Catholic East Texas | DIGITAL (Diocese of Tyler)
• The Catholic Lighthouse | DIGITAL (Diocese of Victoria)

Utah

• Intermountain Catholic (Diocese of Salt Lake City)

Vermont

• Vermont Catholic (Diocese of Burlington)

Virginia

• Arlington Catholic Herald (Diocese of Arlington)
• The Catholic Virginian (Diocese of Richmond)

Washington

• Northwest Catholic | DIGITAL (Archdiocese of Seattle)
• Inland Catholic | DIGITAL (Diocese of Spokane)

West Virginia

• The Catholic Spirit (Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston)

Wisconsin

• The Compass | DIGITAL (Diocese of Green Bay)
• Catholic Life | DIGITAL (Diocese of La Crosse)
• Madison Catholic Herald (Diocese of Madison)
• The Catholic Herald (Archdiocese of Milwaukee)
• The Superior Catholic Herald (Diocese of Superior)

Wyoming

• Wyoming Catholic Register (Diocese of Cheyenne)

AI as a Handmaid to Catholic Evangelization

The command to evangelize, delivered by Jesus Christ himself, is a challenge of cosmic scale and intimate personal connection. For nearly two millennia, the Catholic Church has grappled with the mandate to reach “all nations” (Matthew 28:19) while ensuring profound spiritual transformation.

In the twenty-first century, a powerful and unexpected tool, Artificial Intelligence (AI), is emerging as a potential ally in this enduring mission. Far from replacing the human person in the work of grace, AI can, when guided by the Holy Spirit and used ethically according to Catholic teaching, act as a crucial ‘helping hand,’ accelerating the reach and depth of the Gospel in unprecedented ways that align profoundly with Jesus’ universal plan for salvation.

Receiving Power as Divine Witnesses

The blueprint for evangelization begins with power. In the opening chapter of Acts, Jesus promises the disciples, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judea and Samaria, and indeed to the earth’s remotest end” (Acts 1:8). Catholic evangelists today, directed by this same Spirit, must discern how technological tools can amplify this witness.

AI’s capacity for rapid data synthesis and analysis can identify emerging digital spiritual needs and optimize content for vast digital communities, acting as a catalyst that amplifies the reach of Spirit-led voices but never substituting for the authentic human encounter. Just as ancient roads facilitated the apostles’ journeys, modern digital algorithms can pave the way for modern witnesses, freeing them from transactional tasks to focus on the essential relational and sacramental ministry, the true source of spiritual power.

A Spirit of Wisdom for Enlightened Minds

This connection and knowledge find deeper echo in the letter to the Ephesians, where St. Paul prays for a spirit of wisdom and enlightened minds to bring believers to “full knowledge” of God’s call and the vastness of Christ’s cosmic power (Ephesians 1:17-19).

AI can contribute to this intellectual and spiritual growth within the Church, which is the “body of Christ” (Ephesians 1:23). AI-powered tools can provide personalized scriptural and theological resources, deep-dive doctrinal analysis for educators, and connect diverse Catholic communities and individuals globally, as seen in apps that facilitate daily prayer or offer interactive catechesis.

This fosters a more profound understanding and unity, enabling the body of Christ to grow in knowledge and connect with those searching for truth across the digital landscape. AI becomes a means to draw nearer to divine wisdom and to fellow members, supporting the Church’s growth.

Scaling the Call to Make Disciples and Teach

The clearest application of AI in evangelization, however, is directly linked to the Great Commission in Matthew’s Gospel: “Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you” (Matthew 28:19-20). The task is simultaneously one of vast scale (“all nations”) and meticulous detail (“teaching them”).

AI’s unparalleled ability to scale communication and translation is a direct “helping hand.” Generative AI can instantly translate scriptural and theological resources into myriad languages, including those of remote or historically overlooked populations, fulfilling the geographical scope implied by “all nations” and enabling evangelists to literally speak new languages and reach new people, as called for by Catholic tradition.

Furthermore, AI tools can help personalizing catechetical and educational content for individual learners, ensuring that “teaching” can be delivered in ways that truly resonate with individual hearts and minds, much like Christ tailored his parables, thus facilitating the process of making true disciples.

An Ethical Handmaid to the Timeless Mission

However, a Catholic approach must always view AI as a servant, not a master, of the true mission, which must remain human-centered and ethically grounded, as Vatican guidelines and papal statements increasingly emphasize. Machines mimic and perform computations, but authentic human relationships, pastoral sensitivity, and the grace of the sacraments are irreplaceable in lived faith. Jesus’ plan, revealed in these very scriptures, is ultimately about personal encounter and the work of the Holy Spirit through the body of Christ.

AI outputs must be continually judged against Scripture and Tradition, under human discernment and oversight, serving truth, human dignity, and the common good without creating dependency or diluting the Gospel message. Ethical governance is vital, preventing bias and preserving the moral agency intrinsic to the human person created in God’s image. Thus, a deacon or evangelist might prayerfully use AI for resource creation, translation, and outreach, but would understand that the final pastoral and human dimension, the authentic “I am here, Lord!” availability, remains essential.

In conclusion, AI, when used ethically, prayerfully, and under true human supervision, is not an alternative to the Spirit-led human mission of evangelization, but a powerful modern amplifier. It acts as an invaluable handmaid, breaking down barriers of distance, language, and knowledge that have long challenged the Church’s universal call.

By scaling communication, personalizing teaching, and enabling global connection, AI can help the Catholic Church better fulfill its timeless mandate to reach “all nations” with the joy of the Gospel. Thus, this unexpected technological force can, under the guidance of the eternal Spirit and in faithful obedience to the original command, lend a profound and accelerated helping hand in bringing the whole Christ to the whole person across the entire world, closer in scope and depth to the cosmic plan envisioned by Jesus Christ.—keeping the commands of the One who promised we would never be left as orphans in any age, digital or otherwise.

Priesthood as a Life of Presence through Absence

The journey toward the priesthood is not a career path to be managed, but a mystery to be entered. This Sunday’s readings—the account of the Ascension in Acts, Paul’s prayer for enlightenment in Ephesians, and the Great Commission in Matthew—offer a profound map for your discernment, framing the priesthood not as a position of power, but as a life of “presence through absence.”

The Holy Tension of Acts: Watching and Waiting

In Acts 1:1-11, we witness the disciples standing on the Mount of Olives, gazing into the sky. Jesus has ascended, and they are left in a moment of profound transition. For a man discerning the priesthood, this scene is a mirror. You likely feel the pull of “the heavens”—the desire for the sacred, the call to the altar—while still being firmly rooted on the “earth” of your current life.

The angels’ question to the disciples is a question for you: “Why do you stand looking into heaven?” A vocation is not an escape from the world into a spiritual cloud. Jesus ascends so that He might fill the universe in a new way, and the priest is the man called to facilitate that presence on the ground. In contemporary life, where we are often paralyzed by “option paralysis,” the lesson here is holy patience. You do not need to see the whole staircase to take the first step. Like the disciples, your task is to wait for the “power from on high” rather than trying to manufacture your own spiritual authority.

The Ephesian Prayer: The Eye of the Heart

St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (1:17-23) provides the intellectual and spiritual “fuel” for your journey. He prays for a “Spirit of wisdom and revelation” so that the “eyes of your hearts may be enlightened.” In the digital age, our eyes are constantly bombarded with flickering images, social media metrics, and the noise of secular skepticism. Discernment requires a different kind of sight.

To be a priest is to see Christ where others see only bread, wine, or a broken person. Paul describes Christ as “head over all things for the church.” Practical discernment today means training your “heart-vision.” You must look at the world’s suffering and the Church’s current struggles not with the eyes of a commentator, but with the eyes of a shepherd who knows that the “surpassing greatness of His power” is still at work. If you find yourself more concerned with the politics of the Church than the person of Jesus, stop and ask for the Ephesian enlightenment.

The Great Commission: Authority in Accompaniment

Finally, Matthew 28:16-20 brings us to the “mountain in Galilee.” Here, we see a detail often overlooked: “When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted.” If you feel doubt, you are in good company. The priesthood is not for the “undoubting” but for the “obedient.”

Jesus gives the Great Commission: Go. In modern ministry, “going” looks different than it did two thousand years ago. It means going into the “digital peripheries,” the lonely cubicles of corporate life, and the broken homes of our neighbors. The authority Jesus speaks of is not a permit to rule, but a mandate to serve. The priesthood is the radical commitment to being “with them always,” mirroring Christ’s promise at the end of the age.

Practical Applications for Your Journey

The Rule of Presence: In an era of constant distraction, practice being fully present. If you cannot sit in silence for twenty minutes before the Blessed Sacrament, it will be difficult to listen to a soul in the confessional. Turn off your phone and let the “eyes of your heart” adjust to the quiet.

The Ministry of “The Between”: Acts 1 shows us a Church in transition. If you are in seminary, do not just “wait for ordination.” Be a priest-in-training by seeking out the marginalized now. Offer a word of hope to a friend, or volunteer in a capacity that challenges your comfort zone.

Theologize Your Reality: Relate your studies to the real world. When you read about Christ’s “dominion” in Ephesians, look for where that dominion is needed in your city—in the face of poverty, addiction, or despair.

The world does not need more administrators; it needs men who have been “lifted up” with Christ so they can reach down into the dirt of human experience. Trust the promise: He is with you always. If the call is real, He will provide the grace to fulfill the commission. Stay on the mountain, keep your eyes open, and when He says “Go,” do not be afraid to move.for our hope is a Person, and He has already overcome the world. Walk forward with gentleness, speak with truth, and live with a joy that the Samarias of this world can neither give nor take away. One who is the Life will make your life a “greater work” than you ever imagined possible. Stay close to the Word, stay constant in prayer, and let yourself be built into the spiritual house that Christ is raising up for the salvation of the world.

Faith in the Balance: An Ascension Vision for Addiction and Recovery

The Ascension of Christ is more than a dynamic departure; it is a profound transformation of divine presence. For we, the Catholic faithful gathering in the pews, this Sunday’s readings offer a unique map for understanding the arduous journey of addiction and the essential path of recovery. While the Ascension might seem like a final historical event, its themes of transition, sight, and accompaniment speak directly to the profound and sometimes messy work of living Christ’s presence when His physical self is absent.

Watching and Waiting

In the account from Acts, the disciples are left on the Mount of Olives, gazing into the wide sky. Jesus has ascended, and they stand in a moment of acute transition. For anyone facing addiction, or for those who love them, this scene is a powerful mirror. Addiction is often a state of tension between two realities: the “heavens”—the deep, often painful desire for freedom and the pull of the sacred—and the powerful, visible gravity of a current habit. The angels’ question, “Why do you stand looking into heaven?” is a question for all of us. We can feel paralyzed by the pull. The angel’s question is not a rebuke of their gaze, but an invitation to turn that vision back to the earth where the real work must begin. Addiction is not an escape, but a grounded reality that requires a particular kind of sight and action. Like the disciples, those on the path to recovery must wait for the true “power from on high”—the support and grace that comes from the Holy Spirit, the Church, and a dedicated community—rather than trying to manufacture a spiritual authority alone.

Example: Consider the story of Sarah, a young mother struggling with a long-term addiction to alcohol.

“Gazing into the wide sky”: Sarah’s Vision of Freedom. One evening, after a particularly painful episode, Sarah hits a moment of clarity. She visualizes a life without alcohol—reconnecting with her daughter, regaining her health, and succeeding in her career. This is her “gazing into the heavens”—the deep, painful desire for freedom and the pull of the sacred, of a life meant for better things.

“The powerful, visible gravity of a current habit”: Sarah’s Immediate Reality. The next morning, she wakes up facing intense physical withdrawal and the mental temptation that accompanies it. Her current life is firmly “rooted on the ‘earth'”—the physical setting of her home, the anxiety, the physical dependency. This is the powerful gravity of her habit, pulling her back.

“Why do you stand looking into heaven?” is Sarah’s moment of Paralysis. Sarah stands in her kitchen, overwhelmed by the chasm between her vision (the heavens) and her reality (the earth). She is stuck, thinking about what could be, but not knowing the first step. She is effectively “standing looking into heaven,” waiting for the solution to appear, and is “paralyzed by the pull.”

“The angel’s invitation… back to the earth where the real work must begin”: Her mother, acting as the “angel,” sits Sarah down. She validates Sarah’s desire for a sober life but gently says, “Thinking about it won’t change it. We need to focus on what you need to do right now.” This is the invitation to turn the vision from a spiritual escape back to the grounded reality of recovery.

“Waiting for the true ‘power from on high’”: Sarah’s Real Work. Sarah takes action. Her real work on earth begins. She makes a grounded plan with her mother: setting an appointment at a medical detox center, scheduling her first AA meeting, removing all alcohol from her home, and calling her parish priest for spiritual support.

“Rather than trying to manufacture a spiritual authority alone”: Sarah actively seeks the power of community. She admits her own inability (“I cannot make it happen on my own”) and accepts the “power from on high”—the grace and support that comes through her AA group’s steps, her sponsor’s guidance, the community fund that helps cover the cost of detox, and the prayers of her family. She relies on this external power, rather than trying to manufacture her own control.

Seeing with a Shepherd’s Eyes: The Ephesian Call to Recovery

St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians provides the spiritual and perspective “fuel” for this journey. Paul prays for a “Spirit of wisdom and revelation” that will enlighten the “eyes of our hearts.” In our digital age, where we are bombarded with flickering images and a different kind of noise, clear sight can be impossible. Discernment and recovery require training our heart-vision. We look at the world’s suffering and look at the Church’s current struggles not with the eyes of a commentator, but with the eyes of a shepherd. For the faithful in the pews, this means moving beyond the judgments and metrics of social media to see the person behind the addiction, seeing Christ in their own or their neighbor’s brokenness. We must look at the digital peripheral, the lonely cubicles of corporate life, and the broken homes of our neighbors with the same compassionate gaze Paul calls for.

The Radical Commitment of Accompaniment

Finally, in the Great Commission of Matthew, we stand on the “mountain,” where some “worshiped, but some doubted.” This detail is often overlooked and offers profound reassurance. Faith and doubt can exist side-by-side. The Great Commission is Jesus’ imperative to the entire Church: Go. For the faithful in the pews, “going” looks different than it did two thousand years ago. In an era of constant distraction, “going” means practicing the difficult rule of fully being present. It is the radical commitment of accompaniment. If we cannot sit in silence for twenty minutes before the Blessed Sacrament, it will be difficult to listen to a soul in the confessional. We are all called to a radical commitment to being “with them always.” When we see Christ’s “dominion” in Ephesians, look for where that dominion is needed in our city—in the face of poverty, addiction, or despair.

The world needs men and women who have been “lifted up” with Christ so they can reach down into the dirt of human experience. He is with you always. If the call is real, He will provide the grace to fulfill the commission. Stay off the mountain, keep your eyes open, and when He says “Go,” do not be afraid to move. We carry this universal, powerful presence of Christ into the visible work of recovery. It is a work of faith we are all called to share.