Dear friends,

Jesus’ ascension into heaven is not a reward for what he did on earth, nor a happy ending story where we read: ”and they lived happy ever after” but a return to his rightful place at the right hand of the father.

Our language is very limited and unable to express the reality of who is God and his world.. We are forced to use the language of symbols where the actions of “descending” and “ascending” more than a physical movement intend to describe a change of being: from mortal to immortal. “Cloud” means also the mystery of God who can not be seen.

There is an Asian saying that goes:”When the wise-man points at the moon, what the foolish-man sees is only the finger!” Symbols encourage us to go beyond their meanings

The words of Christ: “Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations” have had a huge importance for the world history. It is because of this command that the Apostles left Israel and reached the end of the Roman Empire to plant the church. Paul traveled so much because he wanted to reach “the end of the world” that is Spain and the strict of Gibraltar. For this command many gave their lives.

When the discovery of America showed that not everyone had heard the Good News, many came and become part of the History of this continent. Mexico and California bear witness to this with the major cities dedicated to saints or mysteries of our faith: St. Francisco, Los Angele, Sacramento, Santa Fe’ etc

It was because of this command that I spent a great part of my life in Africa. In moment of difficulty his promise: “I am with you, always till the end of time” gave me fresh strength. I felt that Christ was giving me fresh energy and new strength. Sierra Leone is also known as “The white-man’s grave” and not only of the white-man but also of the black given its unfavorable climatic situation. When the early missionaries came they survived only for a couple of months and then they died of malaria and other tropical diseases. The Pope sent several bishops in order to established the church and many are buried side-by-side in Freetown catholic cemetery. Splendid examples of faith.

We want to pray, today for the whole church that she may with courage continue to live by the Gospel. With the Ascension of our Lord we have begun the great Novena in preparation to Pentecost, the feast of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the whole world. We want to pray together for that fire which the Holy Spirit came to bring on earth. Jesus said:”I have come to bring fire on earth and how I wish it were already blazing!” We need that fire in our life to give sense and meaning to our life.
Mary was there, with the Apostles in the Upper Room, praying with them and for them till the descent of the Spirit. Today we shall crown her as our queen and mother, confident that she will obtain for us the fire of the Holy Spirit.