The Feast of the Ascension celebrates an ending and yet a beginning as we continue to discover the Faithfulness of our God. “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:16–18) Jesus promises to be with us and to send the Spirit. On Ascension Thursday, we enter into stillness and prayer, awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus.
I was thinking about God’s Faithfulness despite all the unrest in today’s world, and came across the book “Paws (Pause) for Peace” by Sister Ave Clark, O.P. Stillness, (pawsing if you will,) can lead us to peace and remind us of God’s faithfulness. It is common knowledge that God spelled backward is Dog, and there are some similarities between the two. Our four-legged creature has a great sense of unconditional love and takes pleasure in simple things. It is the same with our God; we don’t have to earn God’s love, we must remember it is always there. Dogs are so forgiving and nonjudgmental; they quickly become your friend forever. We could learn from them how to treat one another with more respect, forgiveness, tolerance, and love. To do that, we need to stop and listen to our inner voice, which is the Spirit Jesus spoke of. The Spirit that dwells within us. All the hypocrisy, war, and violence can tend to silence the voice of the Spirit.
What are we going to do? Perhaps like the apostles, we need to STOP and pause so we are prepared to recognize and receive the gifts of the Spirit. God will be with us always, whether it is through the reminder of a faithful furry friend or a group of friends praying for one another. The Spirit is ever faithful; we need to be aware of His presence in our lives and others.
How can you remind yourself of God’s faithfulness? How will you take time to prepare for the coming of the Spirit which God promised? By their fruits you shall know them, (Matthew 7:20). If you have a pet at home, perhaps you could see how it reminds you of our Faithful God. Pets are very peaceful when they rest and oh-so-joyful when they are with you. Take note! “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
Till next week,
Sister Theresita
