“The fact is we can only love what we know personally.”

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. – St Paul

Scripture text: (ACTS 1:12-14)

After Jesus had been taken up to heaven the apostles

returned to Jerusalem

from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem,

a Sabbath day’s journey away.

When they entered the city

they went to the upper room where they were staying,

Peter and John and James and Andrew,

Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew,

James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot,

and Judas son of James.

All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer,

together with some women,

and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

When Jesus walked the earth, Jesus was limited by his human body. A man like us in all things but sin, he could travel only so far. He was limited by hunger, pain, and fatigue. He could do only so much. But now, risen and glorified, Jesus has no limitations. He is free to do so much more! He can now pour out grace and healing at every Mass around the world being celebrated at every moment and at the same time still be present to every soul searching for him in silence.

Pope Francis once said that Jesus is like a rope guide, who climbs the “mountain of the Lord” before us and then pulls us up with him. If anything along our journey up that mountain causes problems or gets in the way, he comes to our rescue. He always forgives us, consoles us, and blesses us. He is our advocate and our defender against the evil one.

Isn’t it comforting to know that Jesus is always with us — in good times and bad — until the end of the world?