Mike's Gospel Reflection for Sunday, June 1, 2025

I respect people who are “down to earth” and “keep their heads in the game.” I assume that those people “know how to get things done.” I’m decidedly less patient with those who have their “heads in the clouds.” In my opinion, they may dream big, but can rarely execute on their dreams.

This week, we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord. Of course, His Ascension into heaven is only possible because he first descended to be with us in this world to proclaim the Good News of His Father’s love for us. He not only came down to earth, He was “down to earth.” The Gospels tell us that He was “a regular guy,” who laughed and cried, was hungry and thirsty, was loving and compassionate. When people met Him, they likely said, “He was so relatable. It was like I had known Him my whole life.” Yet, He never forgot His heavenly home.

When Jesus was taken up to heaven, two angels asked the apostles, “Why are you standing there looking at the sky?” In other words, get your heads out of the clouds and start focusing on the work that needs to be done here on earth.

Someone recently criticized me for being too concerned about our buildings and campus.

In this person’s opinion, I was a little too “down to earth.” That may be true. I tend to focus on tasks which lead to tangible results. Sometimes, when I pray, I feel like I have my head in the clouds, and I’m never sure if it’s making any real difference. I like the fact that both Pope Francis (who got his shoes dirty) and Pope Leo (who ate hotdogs at baseball games) seem to be “down to earth, regular guys,” who value hard work and a practical approach. They do not seem to have their heads “in the clouds.” Yet, we also know that no man becomes Pope without spending much time in prayer, perhaps the Catholic version of having their heads “in the clouds.” And so, as with so many things in our faith tradition, the answer is to balance both aspects of our relationship with Jesus. We have to speak with Him often in prayer and worship, but we also have to do the many “earthly” things that He asks us to do.

Fr. Mike