Fr. Rick’s Gospel Reflection for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

June 1, 2025, Luke 24:46-53

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060125-Ascension.cfm

Experience Leads to Witness

Cell phones are so practical. It was incredible the number of pictures I took when I was in Rome a few weeks ago. I was blessed to visit the shrine of the Holy Face of Christ Jesus. There were no cameras to take pictures in those days. We know that we have the holy face of Christ from His burial clothes. It’s amazing how He thought of everything.

How much I wanted to see what Jesus looked like. As I toured the shrine of the Holy Face, I couldn’t help but feel I was in the presence of something so special. After we left the shrine and began driving, a holy, quiet silence came over me. It was like I couldn’t move a muscle because I didn’t want to lose it.

Then, it struck me like a ton of bricks: Jesus found a way to leave us more than a snapshot of what He looked like. There are hundreds of millions of images of Jesus all around us.

Through the Holy Spirit, slowly but certainly, each of us is transformed into a unique dwelling place for Jesus and the Love our Father has for us. We are all tabernacles of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I have to take to heart that my brother and sister in Christ are the Real Presence of Jesus to me, and I am to them. No explanation is necessary. How much Jesus loves us is evident in the fact that before His Passion, He left us the Holy Eucharist, and after His Ascension, He found a way to be with us all week, even all day, in each other. “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sister, you do to Me.”

Like the Apostles, Jesus “clothes us with power from on high,” literally, Himself, in Holy Communion and each other. Please join me every morning in your heart to be with Jesus so we know He will be with us and everyone throughout our day.

Look for the face of Jesus, whoever you are with.

Have the best Sunday ever.

Peace be with you.

Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
www.bscchurch.com