A sermon for the Ascension of Jesus

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
St. Mary Catholic Church
St. Benignus Catholic Church 
St. Mary Queen of Heaven
and Holy Trinity Catholic Church

My mentor Fr. Ed Connelly gave me wise advice on how to be a good priest. On my ordination day, after placing the priestly stole around my shoulders, he whispered into my ear, "Bless the people God brings to you." 

Two years later, Father Ed, who blessed me with his wisdom and care, went up to Heaven. I have done my best to live those words for the past 43 years.

The last thing Jesus did before Ascending to Heaven was to bless us. "When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him." (Luke 24:50-52.)

I see a profound message in Luke's description of Jesus lifting up to Heaven. Jesus did not bless them and then ascend. He was blessing them "while" ascending at the same time. Why is this important?

The word "bless" means to "invoke divine care" or "bring God's Love to another." Jesus blessing while ascending tells us how to bless another. God wants you to bless others by "lifting them up," to help others "ascend above" life's crosses that weigh them down with sadness, fear and hopelessness.

As I wrote this last sentence, I thought to myself, "I need an example to explain this." While contemplating a good example to use, I received a phone call. It was from a lady named Melinda whom I married in 1988. She wanted to know if I was still alive. I told her I'm very much alive. 

I quoted her the last words of Groucho Marx, "Oh dear. Death is the last thing I'll ever do." 

Melinda told me a beautiful story about her son, Corey. He suffered from a very rare disease that caused him to lose the use of his legs. What a terrible fate when a small child is completely bedfast. 

Melinda decided to give her son every chance to ascend and overcome the limitations of his illness. What did she do? She bought him all types of musical instruments. At 5 years old, he could play the drums as good as any professional. He learned how to make various sounds from many different musical instruments such as guitar, violin, flutes, trumpets, electric keyboard and the national instrument of Poland – the accordion. 

Eventually, he was cured. He could walk again. When he reached adulthood, he told his mom "I'm going to New York." He started his own company named "Corey 19 Productions."

He records sound effects for movies using musical instruments he played as a child from his bed. Many movie producers seek out his unique skill for their movies. 

Melinda said, "I wasn't going to let his sickness keep him down." God used Melinda to bless her son.

There is a word that describes what happens when you bless another by lifting them up in prayer and care. It's called "transcend." Transcend means to "rise above."

The Jesus who ascended, calls His disciples to help others transcend. This is how we witness Jesus and worship God. Anytime you lift someone up when life "keeps them down" (like Melinda's son), you give true worship to God. God defines true worship in James 1:27, "The worship that God wants is this: caring for orphans or widows who need help."

I can't think of a more downtrodden group of people who need transcended. 

Jesus said, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32.) Be a blessing. Bring God's Love. There is no better way to draw someone to Jesus.