Welcome to our daily rosary meditation. Let's begin in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen. Let's call to mind all those we've promised to pray for.

Now in most places, today, Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension, even though we know the event took place

40 days after the resurrection, which would have been Thursday. Now why did Jesus ascend into heaven? Couldn't

our Lord have stayed visibly on earth? Why does he leave after so little a time when such a small

portion of humanity has even had the opportunity to see him face to face? As a matter of fact in the Gospel of John, Jesus tells us exactly why

he chose to leave. He said, truly it is better for you that I go away because if I do not go the advocate the

Holy Spirit will not come to you but if I go I will send the spirit to you.

Now consider how the disciples had for the most part

simply watched while Jesus preached, healed, forgave, suffered, and worked to build the kingdom of God.

Even now that he's risen, the Apostles still remain passive, content to wait and see what Jesus will do next.

They seem to expect him to continue leading the way.

I mean, even look at their last question.

Lord, will you now restore the kingdom of Israel?

But the Apostles' time of watching is over. God has granted us the inconceivable

honor of being his co-workers in the task of saving souls. St Paul wrote as much

when he said for we are coworkers with God. So the time of being passive consumers is over. Now is the time to get to work.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallow would be your name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth

as it is in heaven.

Give us to stay our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed

art thou among women. Blessed is a fruit of thy womb Jesus.

...