I am with you always, until the end of age.

Yesterday’s homily, again delivered by Father Martin Leopold, was both bone-chillingly poignant and deeply personal on so many levels. For those who don’t know, this weekend was the celebration of the Ascension of Christ - the physical departure of Christ from Earth into the presence of God in Heaven. And while this is a concept I am having difficulty wrapping my head around (yet foundational to my faith), Father Martin framed the “so what” with such finesse that I was moved to write.

First of all, Father Martin spoke of the type of mindset we should strive for in all aspects of our lives, most especially in our religious endeavors. This is a framework that was developed by American psychologist Carol Dweck in her book Mindset. Too often, we can experience a fixed mindset - one that relives the past and is afraid of the new and unknown mostly because of the risks associated with failure. We must, however, seek out a growth mindset - one that embraces change and accepts failure as the best way to learn and develop.

The other dynamic that Father Martin discussed is the concept of mission - in the context of Jesus’s departure and as it relates to the separation we experience in our everyday lives. With graduation season upon us, as an example, many young men and women are leaving the nest for the first time - an emotional experience for both child and parent. Yet the departure itself is a gift for both in that it forces growth, learning, and independence. Similarly, when Jesus leaves, he pushes the disciples out the door to fulfill The Word; up to that point, “Jesus had been doing all the work…yet we can’t hang out in the upper room forever.”

This homily was a call to action for me - I must embark on a new Mission, cultivate my mind, body and spirit, and continue to evangelize Love and Compassion.