"... behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”"As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God."
-- Lk 24:46-53
In the city of man we can become mired, weighed down by the things which do not last. The temptation arises to become discouraged, perhaps even dissuaded from entering into the temple of God on Sunday to embrace once again the "life on high with Christ Jesus" that will never end.
But here we must be, we need to be, so that "doing Him homage" in the liturgy through the psalms, hymns and inspired songs, hearing the proclamation of His Word, receiving His Eucharist we are thereby "clothed with power from on high". We give ourselves over to the life of the liturgy in the Church, so "that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,would be preached in his name."
The "new Jerusalem" of the city of God, made present once again in Christ, is reflected by the beauty, worthiness and dignity of the sacred liturgy, where everything is done to manifest the holiness and beauty of the heavenly worship, where Christ is now seated at the right hand of the Father.
Through the intercession of the Son now ascended, we are "clothed with power", receiving the gift of grace in the Spirit, made ready to return to "the city": to our homes and families, work and play, "equipped for every good work", "continually praising God" in the "temple" of our hearts and minds.
"Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy."
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever.
-- ((((..))))
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