The Church’s liturgical calendar parallels our lives. Next week we will have completed the Easter Season as we welcome the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. And between these two feasts we have just celebrated the Ascension of our Lord Jesus into heaven. As I said, these feasts parallel our life’s journey. How so? Easter reminds us that when we die to sin and selfishness, we rise with the help of Jesus into newness of life filled with happiness and joy. Pentecost recalls to us our own Baptism and Confirmation which brought the gifts of the Holy Spirit which we need to guide our lives on its journey. And the connecting feast of the Ascension is our feast of Hope: it is the Hope of Glory (God’s and ours’) for Jesus is closer to us than we think!!! But do we really believe in these feasts? And do we try to make them a real part of our lives? I’ve been thinking a lot about the Ascension these days, given that in our world today there is so much hopelessness and despair. It is sad when you hear about the isolation and loneliness that so many people experience around us. For example, I remember when I was a hospital chaplain that over 50% of the patients who came into the emergency room for treatment had no physical problem whatever!!! It was either due to stress, to loneliness, or to depression. In fact, I was astounded with how many elderly people came in wanting to be admitted because they felt isolated at home and had nobody to talk with; yet there was nothing physically wrong with them!! Let’s face it, God made us to be together with each other in care and conversation and companionship. Our culture is moving more and more away from taking care of these basic human and spiritual needs. And we are suffering for it. This is why we need to take part in the Church’s liturgy; because it is not only about Religion, it is about Life!!! Our life with God, and God’s life with us. It is only through the power of God’s Spirit that we can be happy and fulfilled. As we move from the Ascension to Pentecost, let our hearts and hands reach out with greater generosity and compassion to one another. This is the way God’s wants us to be!!!     ~ Fr. John