Sometimes it’s difficult to see God present in our world, especially in the face of tragedy, but Jesus promises to be with us always. Christian Verghese, SJ, reflects on Jesus’ promise and God’s presence through community. Based on the readings for Ascension Sunday.
Where does God seem absent to you today?
Hi, my name is Christian Verghese, and this is my One-Minute Reflection.
Exactly one year ago today, a group of McQuaid Jesuit students and I visited a place where God appeared to be completely distant.
We visited the Tops grocery store in Buffalo to pay our respects and pray for those who had been lost in the shooting just a few days prior.
What we witnessed was the beauty of how God responds to tragedy through community.
Community members set up large tents for barbecue and donations, a DJ blasted upbeat music, and hundreds of people gathered to advocate and pray for the lives lost and prevent such tragedies in the future.
In today’s gospel, Jesus encourages us to go make disciples of all the nations.
What’s often left out and forgotten about this passage are the very last words of the Gospel today: “I am with you always.”
In today’s feast of the ascension, we do not commemorate Jesus’s departure from this earth. Quite the opposite. He has ascended over death and darkness to be with us, always.
