Sunday, May 17, 2026 – The Ascension of the Lord
Here in our Tri-State area, the month of May is primary election season, and as we could have predicted, the filth has been flying on the airwaves. Negative and attack ads against candidates, issues, and parties have taken up our television commercial time. And now with new technologies and AI images being utilized, false and unfair depictions of people are being aired. Many of us are and have been disgusted by how these ads distort candidates and fail to address the real issues we are most concerned about. Again I, and perhaps we cry out, will our politicians ever learn?
During this unfortunate time, a wonderful memory unrelated to our elections came to mind which brought me peace, hope and wonder. Interestingly, it came from an unfortunate event. A number of years ago, I was flying home to Cleveland from San Jose, California in the month of December. My flight was delayed for some time, and I was getting restless due to the late hour I would get back east. We eventually took off and in the late afternoon I was flying over the snowcapped Rocky Mountains at sunset. Wow! What a sight. It is hard to explain. I just looked out my cabin window in total awe. It was God’s creation in all its glory! This would not have happened if we departed from San Jose on time. How goodness and wonder can emerge from frustration and disappointment.
During these closing days of our Easter Season, we must hold firm to the theme and promise of the resurrection—life from death. We may be disheartened by many current events, such as campaign ads, violence, corruption, and death. But at the same time, we must have the trust in God that all will be well and new revelations of God’s presence will be revealed in human and natural events.
As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension today, Jesus ascends into glory after a rollercoaster of events spanning his thirty-three years on our planet. In our own “rough and tumble” life stories, may we have the conviction that in our time and for eternity, we will see God’s glory and ascend to it ourselves.