One time, during a funeral here, the daughter of the deceased gave the eulogy: She talked about what her father did but never mentioned what he considered to be the most important part: his faith. When the wife heard the eulogy, she was very sad, and told me later that, during her husband’s life, he felt his children didn’t understand him.
What we’re pondering today is knowing God. A few years ago, some of you told me to preach more about the Holy Spirit. The main reason I haven’t is that I don’t know Him as well as God the Father and Jesus. But I want to know Him better!
The Gospel today says, “When they [the disciples] had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority’” (Acts 1:6-7). They know Jesus well but have gaps in their knowledge: They’re still expecting Him to restore an earthly kingdom. So, Jesus corrects them.
Let me also make a loving correction. Many of us know that, when we get confirmed, young people and their parents write a letter to the archbishop. One thing I’ve noticed in these letters is that, when we write about Jesus, we focus on His teachings. Actually, that’s not a great answer. So, let’s improve. Whenever we talk about Who Jesus is, focus primarily on His Death and Resurrection because that’s the central mystery of Who He is, that is what reveals His perfection, His divine love and power.
Jesus continues, “‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses…’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight” (1:8-9). Jesus says He’s going to send the Holy Spirit after He leaves. Today we’re celebrating His Ascension: He returns to the Father. But why does He leave the disciples? Why not stay with them and help them know Him better? Because Jesus reveals the Father, and the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus. The principle is: Someone close to us reveals someone who is further from us. For example, Christians don’t worship mother earth, as if the earth were divine—if we did, we would lose sight of God being beyond the universe. We worship God Who is transcendent. But He sends His Son to be close to us, and He reveals Who God really is: He is our Father and loves us as much as He loves His Son.
Remember what we said about mothers and fathers? Fathers represent the transcendence of God, that He is beyond us; mothers represent the immanence of God, that He is close to us. Why? Because of human experience: When a baby is born, the mother is usually close by, but not necessarily the father. Even if the father is present, the mother is always closer to life. So it’s her role to introduce her baby to the father.
We all do this. If I do something that you don’t understand, you talk to each other first. Very few ask me directly. Instead of asking me why I make fun of Deacon Andrew, you ask him, because he’s closer to you. Same with the Church: The Church is made up of Christians, so they are the ones who bring us to God.
Fr. John Riccardo, of Detroit, has told a beautiful story about his mother and father. His mother was very wounded because her father abandoned her. She didn’t speak to him for years and didn’t invite him to her wedding. Because of her pain, her husband did everything he could to make sure she didn’t believe the lie that she was unlovable. At one point, when he was out of town in daily negotiations to save his company, he spent more money than necessary and tired himself out by flying home daily so she wouldn’t feel abandoned. During his funeral, when she was in a wheelchair, she looked at his body and said, ‘Honey, because of you, I know who God is.’ Their son, Fr. John, thought, ‘That’s the single point of marriage’ (Rescued, 174-175). The person closest to us reveals Who God is.
Jesus says, ‘you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.’ One of the powers the Holy Spirit gives us is to speak about Jesus’ Death and Resurrection. I experienced His mercy when He forgave all my sins when I was 16, but I didn’t realize I should focus on that when talking to others. Now I do.
If someone at work asked us about Jesus, what would we say? The Holy Spirit will help us, if we are open to Him! Before Easter, a devout Catholic from Montreal, Michael Gentile, who is a supporter of our parish, was on a webinar with hundreds of investors in mining. The host ended the call asking Michael about his faith, and he spoke about Jesus’ Death and Resurrection . (Please watch: 1:10:05-1:10:34; 1:11:00-1:13:42.)
When we know the central mystery of Jesus, we speak about it. We’ve had a number of weeks to prepare for our Pentecost Challenge next week, when we’re going to ask, ‘Have I placed Jesus’ mission at the center of my identity?’ We’re going to ask for a show of hands, and then fill out cards. St. Paul VI said that the deepest identity of the Church is to share Jesus with others. That’s the deepest identity of Christians as well.
When it’s time for our funeral, if someone were to give the eulogy (which should be about five minutes, not longer than the homily, because we want to focus more on God’s word), wouldn’t it be beautiful if they said, ‘Because of you, I know God. Because of you, I encountered Jesus, Who died and rose for me’?
Jesus left us and returned to the Father, so that the Holy Spirit would come upon us. We’re close to people and the Holy Spirit in us reveals Jesus, and Jesus reveals the Father.