Dear Friend of Carmel Mission,
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. This great feast celebrates the moment when Jesus is taken up in to Heaven. Of equal importance in the Gospel today is what precedes and follows this moment in the lives of the disciples. Immediately before He is taken up Jesus tells His disciples that they must “go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) As soon as He takes His place at the right hand of the Father “The Lord worked with them and confirmed the word with accompanying signs.” (Mark 16:20).
As modern day disciples, we are in the similar situation as the original Eleven at the time of Jesus’s Ascension. We know that it is our responsibility and our privilege to spread the Good News of the Gospel, and we know that our God works always for good with us, within us, and through us. For over two thousand years, since Jesus ascended, His disciples have been about this vital work. Over 250 years ago, one such follower of Jesus, St. Junipero Serra, answered God’s call to bring the Good News to the coast of California. St. Junipero was tireless in his efforts, confident that the Lord was working with Him in, what was to him and other Europeans, a New World.
At the heart of Evangelization is communication. In our modern world, we have forms of communication beyond the wildest dreams of the original disciples or St. Junipero. Now, thanks to our globally interconnected world, the options at hand to spread the Good News are ever growing and increasingly instantaneous. With all these advancements however comes more noise, more competition for people’s attention. This makes dynamic, comprehensive communication more crucial than ever for followers of Jesus Christ. I am continually renewed by St. Junipero’s example, and am inspired to strive to be as dogged, fearless, and creative an evangelist. Together, working with the Lord, we can make a difference in expanding the reach of the Good News of God’s limitless love.
I wish you and your loved ones blessings of good health, renewed hope and great inspiration,
Fr. Paul
Please take a moment to read our Carmel Mission Weekly Bulletin.