Tag: Ascension

Phenomenal Mercy, Morality, and Mission: Homily for the Ascension 2026

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Ascension, A                                                                                                   May 17, 2026Fr. Alexander Albert                                                            St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville https://youtu.be/w6L_PEc6sV8 N.B. This is the third and final part of a series. Part 1 is here. Part 2 is here. As a young boy, my favorite animated movie was ‘Aladdin.” In it a young man finds a magic lamp containing a genie who can grant him three wishes. Voiced by the iconic Robin Williams, one of the genie’s most memorable lines is “phenomenal cosmic power, itty bitty living space” – something he says while describing the fact that he is permanently bound to the...Read More

The Gift of Going Away: Homily for the Ascension 2024

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Solemnity of the Ascension, B                                                                                   May 12, 2024Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/bORFb1E3u2M St. Paul tells us that Jesus “ascended on high; he gave gifts to men.” What gifts? The power of the Holy Spirit to become witnesses of Jesus to the whole world. Power for exorcisms, healings, miraculous communications and survival. And not just to the Apostles long ago. To this day, these signs happen throughout the world in conjunction with the proclamation of the gospel by laity and clergy alike. Neither does this power to bear witness only come in...Read More

You’ve Got the Power: Homily for the Ascension 2023

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Ascension of our Lord                                                                                                May 21, 2023Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/s3uqxmmtueA [N.B. The Sunday Mass was Confirmation, preached by Fr. Blanda so this homily was only given at the Saturday 4 PM Mass] What would you do with more power? Make your own life easier? Get even with some people? Fix some local problems? What would you do with all the power? Solve world hunger? Cure diseases? Save the environment? Change laws? If I had the power to make one law that couldn’t be reversed, I’d probably make it illegal for anyone to own...Read More

Homily for the Ascension: Advancing the Kingdom of Heaven

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Ascension, C                                                                                                               May 29, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/HMLIPbQGB1I Where did he go? Jesus is “lifted up” in the first reading until a cloud takes him from sight. The Gospel tells us he “was taken up to heaven.” So, do we believe that heaven is up there, in the clouds somewhere? Did Jesus go up like a rocket ship into outer space until he reached some distant planet where heaven is? Of course not. But to this day, we talk about heaven as being “above” us and...Read More

Homily for Ascension Sunday, B: The Work of Love

Posted on by Father Albert
Ascension Sunday, B                                                                                                  May 16, 2021Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/vQfcazDSmdE The Bishop asked that this letter be read during the homily: "Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Diocese of Lafayette, the third commandment of God obliges us to keep holy the Lord's Day. This commandment is fulfilled when we give God the most perfect worship possible, the worship of Jesus Christ himself in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We also observe it by works of charity, spiritual reading, and refraining from unnecessary servile labor to spend time with family...Read More