Occasion: Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
Readings: Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23 or 4:1-13; Mark 16:15-20

Last words come hard. The dying, often weak from infirmity, at times pained by disease, struggle to speak to their loved ones who gather around. Jesus himself, while crucified, uttered what traditionally are known as the "Seven Last Words." Many a Catholic in a bygone age memorized these last sayings of Jesus as part of their religion lessons. And the composer Franz Josef Haydn wrote The Seven Last Words of Christ, a magnificent chorale and orchestra piece centering on Jesus' last utterances from the cross.

Memorable though they are, we know from two of today's readings that Jesus' words from the cross were not his last. Just 40 days ago we celebrated Easter, the Resurrection, after which Jesus continued to speak on earth until that moment we celebrate today, his Ascension.

The reading from the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles focuses on the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit the apostles were chosen. And Christ tells the apostles they will soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Jesus' last words in the Acts of the Apostles center directly on the promise of Holy Spirit: ". . . . You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses, not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth."

Our gospel today takes this promise and prophecy further. These last words of Jesus continue to describe the responsibilities of receiving the Holy Spirit. Christ tells the apostles the gospel needs to be proclaimed throughout the whole world, the good news needs to be shared with all creation. Exuberant activity will be signs of those who believe: casting out devils, the gift of tongues, aversion to poisons, and curing the sick.

Such exuberant moments, if your life is like mine, are not usually part of day-to-day activities. Yet, we believe the Holy Spirit is very much a part of our sacred tradition, breathing sacred power into our secular lives.

Such exuberant moments, if your life is like mine, are not usually part of day-to-day activities. Yet, we believe the Holy Spirit is very much a part of our sacred tradition, breathing sacred power into our secular lives.

In the second reading we see the results of receiving the Holy Spirit. Paul, the famed apostle to the Gentiles, who traveled the then known world preaching the gospel, exhorts the Ephesians to live their lives to "preserve the unity of the Spirit." "Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness, and patience." These day-to-day virtues, simple in utterance but difficult in behavior, are attainable with the aid of the Spirit. They are the ordinary manifestations of an extraordinary event, the coming of the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus immediately before his Ascension.

Paul tells the Ephesians and, ultimately, ourselves, even more. He tells us that people's public lives also accept and reflect the Holy Spirit in a variety of ways. "And to some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the Body of Christ."

Ideally, faith is very much part of our daily lives. We believe in the creation of the Father, the message of his Son, and the power of the Holy Spirit. On this Ascension Day, faith is what draws us together in this celebration of the Eucharist, and it is what sends us forth into our everyday lives. It is what drew the apostles to Jesus. Faith brought them to the moment of Christ's Ascension when he took earthly leave of his friends, but not without a promise, the promise of the Holy Spirit.

This Spirit challenges our dubious behavior and undergirds our best behavior. This Spirit inspires us to be generative and generous in our day-to-day lives. This Spirit guides us to embrace a particular calling in life for the spread of the kingdom and the good of others.

The promise of living Spirit-filled lives, both individually and socially, is perhaps often less dramatic but ultimately more impressive than casting out demons and speaking in tongues. The promise of Jesus' Ascension is more than a call to lead faithful lives. It is the promise of assistance in living faith-filled lives-lives that will proclaim Christ to our families, our communities, and, indeed, our whole world.

May we all ascend to living exuberantly Spirit-filled lives that Jesus himself promised in his last words before his own Ascension.