By way of information, in most of the United States this Sunday the Roman Catholic Church is celebrating the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. However, in the Ecclesiastical Provinces of the Archdioceses of Boston, Hartford, and New York, and in their suffragan dioceses (that is for Hartford the dioceses of Bridgeport, Norwich and Providence, Rhode Island), the Ascension of the Lord is  traditionally celebrated on the 40th day of Easter, which is always a Thursday, this year May 14th.  The other Ecclesiastical Provinces have transferred this Solemnity to the following Sunday.  

In this the seventh Sunday of Easter our readings center on Glory, Prayer, and Revelation. What do these three things have to do with us today? It might seem obvious, but there is a deeper  meaning than just the basic understanding of those three words. Let’s consider the following:  

Glory: Jesus speaks of a unique kind of glory given to Him by the Father before the world was created, a glory that is not based upon power or dominance—some kind of victory of lands or castles— but a glory that is about the fullness of divine life and love, which comes by way of the mission of  salvation. Why and how were we created? Out of divine love and for the excellence of that which He— God—created us to be. Jesus asks to be glorified so that He may then glorify the Father; it is not for personal power or recognition but rather to always point to God the Father. This mutual glorification is so that it may reveal to us the intimate relationship between the Father and the Son, and that their love  highlights the unity of the Trinity. It is indeed through Jesus that we come to “see” the perfect revelation of God’s glory.

Prayer: This answers what prayer truly is, as Jesus gives us the perfect model of prayer (the prayer in today’s gospel is often called “the high priestly prayer”), which is deeply intimate, honest and filled with purpose. The Church teaches that prayer is a way to enter into the life of God, to unite  ourselves with Christ’s mission, and to draw strength and guidance. Jesus prays not just for Himself, but for His disciples and for all who come to believe in Him through their message. Prayer, then, is not  simply a personal and private dialogue with God; it is a powerful act of communion that links us to God and to one another. Prayer is communal.  

Revealing God to the World: Notice that Jesus prays that His followers may be one, just as He and the Father are one, so that the world may believe. The Christian worlds unity in faith and love  becomes the living reality of our own faith, in fact, with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we are able to become the divine reflection of God in our families, communities, businesses, and world around us.  Reflecting the Love of God enables us and His Church to become the visible sign of God’s presence to those in need. Our witness to faith, or as I like to refer to it—our Catholic Action—when rooted in prayer and glorifying God—draws others to the Light of Christ.

May the remaining time of Easter as well as the year ahead enable us to share in the glory of Christ, to deepen our prayer life, and live out our faith in Catholic Action so as to reflect the Divine Love of our Creator, transforming ourselves, our families, our Church, and our world. Amen!