A person's words in their final moments of earthly life carry extra power. Jesus' last words before ascending into heaven, then, are vitally important. At that final moment, Jesus said we will receive power (Acts 1:8). The Greek word used for power is the same root word we use for dynamite. Jesus plans to give us explosive power to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). He wants us to know "the immeasurable scope of His power in us" (Eph 1:19).

Jesus pours all this explosive power into our weak human lives to make it clear that the surpassing power comes from God, not from us (2 Cor 4:7). In our weakness and surrender, His power reaches perfection (2 Cor 12:9). Our human strength becomes in effect a spiritual circuit-breaker. When we try to be strong on our own, we flip the switch which shuts off the flow of God's power. When we lose our life in Him, our weakness opens the switch that causes God's power to flow through us in high voltage.

The Ascension marks the beginning of Jesus' plan to work through us in a new way: in power. The all-powerful God has chosen to share His power with us! In Christ, He has given us "power to tread on...all the forces of the enemy" (Lk 10:19). In Jesus, we have so much power that even the demons are subject to us (Lk 10:17). Surrender to the Holy Spirit and receive power from on high. Then let Jesus' power flow through you to renew the earth.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 31, 2011

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