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JUNE 1, 2003 Ascension of the Lord
"You will be my witnesses to the end of the earth."
Acts 1: 1-11
"Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel
to every creature."
Mark 16: 15-20
ACED OUT
After a tough week, Father decided "No way can I face the congregation on Sunday." Feigning illness, he asked a sympathetic retired priest to take the Masses that weekend.
And Sunday morning, Father hit the golf course.
Watching all this unfold from his vantage point in heaven, St. Peter was outraged by Father's irresponsibility and went to see God. God listened to Peter's report and said he would take care of it.
The truant pastor was the first one to the tee. He teed up his ball, took a swing, and launched the best drive he ever hit. As he watched in disbelief and joy, the ball bounced high on the apron and rolled on the green directly to the flag. Father ran to the green to find the ball in the cup. His first hole-in-one! The excited priest danced for joy.
Meanwhile, back in heaven, St. Peter was incredulous.
"Lord what are your doing? I thought you were going to take care of this guy."
God smiled. "I just did. Who do you think he's going to tell?"
CONNECTION: Sharing good news is second nature to us. We can't wait to tell others about our new child or grandchild, the new job or promotion, the latest accomplishment of our sons and daughters. On the Mount of the Ascension, Jesus calls us to tell others about the good news of Easter's empty tomb. He asks us to be witnesses of God's presence in our midst, to be agents of hope, to be prophets of compassion and peace. On this day, Jesus calls us to continue His work that is vindicated and perfected in His resurrection from the dead. We who have seen and heard the story of the Gospel Jesus, the love God made human for us, are now called to bring that hope into the lives of others and into our own lives and the lives we touch.
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