Jesus’ Witnesses in the World

HOMILY: Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Luke 24:46-53

29 May 2022 

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

My friend has two beautiful daughters. One of them is leaving in August to study abroad for a year or two. It is a happy yet sad occasion for their family because they treasure their daughters and are very protective of them.  Her daughter has barely left the country and they are already planning how often they can visit each other within the school year. Parting from loved ones is really one of the most difficult things. In death, there is a perception of a permanent separation that makes it all the more painful. However, when the separation is temporary — be it a few months, or even a few years, it becomes more bearable because we know we have a chance to see our loved one again. 

Today, we remember the Lord’s Ascension into heaven. It must have been a very painful experience for the disciples. They thought they had lost Him for good at the crucifixion, then imagine their shock and joy at His return to them during the Easter period!  Throughout the next 40 days before the Ascension, Jesus may not have been consistently in their presence, but we are told He appears to them and is able to spend much time with them, instructing them. How happy his followers must have been to be able to be with Him again. Then here comes His Ascension where He must leave them again to return to Heaven. (Aalis na naman siya. Magkakahiwalay na naman sila. Hindi na naman sila magkikita ng matagal-tagal.) How their hearts must have broken all over again. How fearful they must have been because their leader would be leaving them! (Paano na sila?)

Recently, it has been my privilege to celebrate the many accomplishments of another very challenging school year with some school communities, particularly St. Pedro Poveda College where I serve as school chaplain.  It was a time to celebrate all of the hard work both teachers and students alike have put into making sure that learning was facilitated. Of course, the students were sad to be going their separate ways and be parting from their friends of many years, but they are happy that their hard work in school is paying off and they look forward to making new friends and having new experiences in the next level of education. Highlighting the offering of all these graces at the baccalaureate mass and the graduation ceremony helps everyone to remember what has been achieved and what they ought to be grateful for. The “graduation ceremony” is also referred to as ‘commencement exercises’ which I actually prefer, because the term, in itself, implies a ‘new phase’ or ‘a beginning’ or ‘a period of transition.’ It is not seen as ‘the end of a phase’ or a ‘departure from a certain level at school’.  It rather entails a start of new pursuits for future opportunities. (Papunta pa lang tayo sa exciting part!)

For the disciples, the Ascension marks their entering into a new phase without Jesus. Just as in any parting of friends and loved ones, the final hugs and kisses, and the final words to each other are the most important and the most memorable. In Luke’s account, in the Acts of the Apostles, the very last words of Jesus to His disciples are “you will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) He makes it clear that He wants all His disciples to carry on the work He had begun. As Jesus leaves, He gives all His followers a very important mission — to be, in His physical absence, a loving and redemptive presence in the world. This mission is something we inherit from the disciples because we choose to follow in their footsteps as followers of Jesus Christ.  We too must be witnesses for our contemporaries in the world. 

Another important element between the parting of friends and loved ones is the parting gift. Jesus does not leave His friends empty handed. He tells them they have to go back to Jerusalem. That is where they will receive His parting gift.  There, they would have to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit who would strengthen them as they commence their participation in Jesus’ saving mission. That is what we celebrate at Pentecost. The power of his Holy Spirit poured onto us through our baptism, completed in our confirmation, compels us to be His “witnesses” in this world.  (It is to be noted that the Greek word Luke uses here is “martures”.) In other words, we are called to be His “martyrs” – giving witness in the world by being persons of faith and also action, even at the cost of our own life. The task is not easy so we rely on the gifts of the spirit to empower us for the mission. 

As Jesus disappears from their sight, the disciples continue to gaze upwards into the sky. All that transpire is still an overwhelming experience that must have stirred up so many mixed emotions. They are fearful, sad, yet joyful and hopeful. It is then those two men wearing white clothes stand beside them and say: “Men of Galilee, what are you doing looking at the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  (Acts 1:11) That is the assurance they need to realise that the separation, though it will be lengthy is not going to be permanent.  There will be a reunion. To go a step further, we can presume that this is also a foretelling of the reunion of Jesus with the world in His second coming. (Mula sa langit, bababa siyang muli at tatapak uli sa lupa ng kamundohan.) Either way, Jesus is reunited with humanity that He loves so much that He became one of us, and sacrificed His life for us that we may have a chance to be with Him for all eternity.  (Hindi ba’t napakagandang manatili sa presensiya ng nagmamahal sa iyo ng lubos at ng walang kundisyon? Sana asahan natin at asamin natin yun — ang hindi na mawalay magpakailanman sa Diyos.)

On this day of the Ascension of our Lord, we are being introduced to a time of transition in our discipleship to a life of mission. As in any transition we experience in life, times of transition are often difficult.  But Jesus assures us to soldier on because the Holy Spirit, will guide us to fulfil our mission in life. As disciples of Jesus, we cannot simply keep looking for Him in the sky. Rather, our mission is to be Jesus in this world. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit, the Comforter (cum-forte, with strength) to move powerfully in us every day of our lives as we strive to be authentic witnesses of our Christian faith!