St. Mary's Catholic Church of Tomahawk, WI

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

We are on the seventh Sunday of the Easter Season celebrating the feast of the Ascension of the Lord. In the first reading we learn that Jesus spent forty days with the apostles giving them further instructions, promising the coming of the Holy Spirit and commissioning them to carry on His work. Disciples were curious about the time of restoration of the Kingdom of Israel. But the Lord redirects their attention to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. This is our mission to bear witness to Christ always.

The second reading states that receiving the Holy Spirit results in knowledge of Christ. But this is not head knowledge, rather it is heart knowledge. Through it, our hearts are opened to a new understanding of key spiritual insights. There are three mentions here, first is the hope that comes from our Christian Vocation. Second is the glorious riches of our heavenly inheritance. Third is, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, to understand the incalculable greatness of God’s power.

The Gospel presents to us the Great Commission of our Lord to His apostles, “Go and make disciples of all nations”. This is the important theme where our diocese is reflecting and working on for three years, through Evangelization and Maintenance to Mission. Jesus establishes His sovereign authority by His declaration of power over all of heaven and earth. Then He imparts that power to His apostles and by sending them to make disciples of all nations He opens the good news of salvation to all people. Do we want to become participants in this great mission? What is our contribution towards the transformation of our people?

Fr. Aloysius Royan Anthony