This weekend follows Ascension Thursday, where Jesus returns home to the Father after spending time with His disciples after He rises from the dead. He ascends to the Father because that is where He belongs - the Father and the Son together.  We can look to our own father’s as a confirmation of this fact - is there any place our earthly fathers wish to be other than close to their families?  The Father in heaven wishes to be close to His Son - and there is no place closer than heaven. And so, Jesus ascends to the Father.

One of the things that differentiates our faith with other faiths is that we have an inner look at the dynamic relationship between the Father and the Son through Scripture. In no other faith is this so. It’s the reason why I can’t stand those “coexist” stickers on the back of peoples cars. Of course we understand why people put them on the back of their cars - to promote harmony. But the Catholic faith is different. It is through our faith that we get to participate in this dynamic relationship. Listen to our Gospel passage today:

“But now I am coming to you.
I speak this in the world
   so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them,
   because they do not belong to the world
   any more than I belong to the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world
   but that you keep them from the evil one.
They do not belong to the world
   any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
   so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them,
   so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”

Through sacraments and scripture and the teachings of the Church - we BELONG to God. We belong in this beautiful relationship between the Father and the Son. We do not belong to the world any more than Jesus does. So do not let your hearts be troubled about anything. For “what can separate us from the love of God?”

May the Lord give you His peace,

-Fr. Bob

PS - If you put a “coexist” sticker on my car like one of my previous parishioners - Yogi will get you.