The Ascension and Our Christian Mission

HOMILY: Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Matthew 28:16-20

21 May 2023

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

Recently, I accompanied a group of pilgrims to different iconic and religious sites in Italy. Among the sites we visited were the Sistine Chapel in Rome which contains Michelangelo’s finest frescoes and the breath-taking Cathedral of Florence dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore. The frescoes on the interior of the dome of both these places of worship are simply a feast for the eyes. Our neck is bound to hurt from staring up at the majestic array of beautiful colours, vivid imagery, and complex history layered within each brushstroke of the paintings overhead.  We could stare at it endlessly and always discover some new and interesting detail because one viewing is not enough to fully absorb and appreciate every inch of it. 

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. Jesus returns to the glory of the Father. In the Ascension account from the Acts of the Apostles, we are told that as Jesus disappears from their sight, the disciples continue to gaze upwards into the sky. It is then that two men wearing white garments stand beside the disciples and told them: “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

Can we put ourselves in the shoes of the disciples? Our idol, our  teacher/rabbi, our dearest friend, the person who proved that He is God the Son is going up into the sky…. Would we not intently keep on gazing at him until he is gone? Would will we not wish that maybe, just maybe, if we held our gaze long enough, He just might return again just as swiftly? In the same way we gaze up at marvels of the art world, the disciples gazed up at the marvel that is Jesus Christ. They were however reminded by men in white whom we can assume are angels, that they must rethink their fascination with the gravity-defying spectacle. They can’t just stay dumbfounded. We cannot simply keep looking for Him in the sky. As Jesus’ disciples, it is our duty to make Jesus present in this world — to allow others to know Jesus and to experience His love and mercy.  

If we look closely, the Ascension of our Lord is a time of transition in our discipleship to a life of mission. In fact, Jesus commissions His apostles to “go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” (Matthew 28:19) The power of His Holy Spirit that has been poured into us through our baptism compels us to be His “witnesses” in this world. We are called to give witness to the Risen Jesus in our own life situation. Jesus ascends back to His Father in heaven but He ensured that the work of redemption which He began on earth, will continue through His new Body, the Church. He continues to teach through the prophets, apostles and evangelists. He ministers though the church’s pastors. In and through the Church, Jesus continues to heal, to comfort, to forgive and to include God’s children.  

As we know, any transition we experience in life is often difficult. But Jesus assures us as we soldier on that the Holy Spirit will guide us to fulfill the mission He has entrusted to us. Through the Paraclete, God still remains with us and among us. In a sense, the Ascension of Our Lord is not a story of Jesus abandoning us. It only seems so because we can no longer interact with Him as we do with other human beings. He does make Himself present to us most intimately in the Eucharist and in every endeavour undertaken for His continuing salvific mission. Jesus can be close to each one of us forever for He is no longer bound by the limits of this earth. He is with us on our journey through life. He is with us in our hardships and comforts, in our defeats and victories, in our sorrows and joys. He will be with us until the end of our lives. This is what He promised before He departed this world, “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Finally, we have got to look beyond this world to the destiny which we are to share with Christ — in the Father’s Kingdom. Everything in this world is temporary. Wealth, fame, sorrow and suffering — all are temporary. This world does not hold our inheritance as children of God, so we do not cling so much to the things of this world. The Ascension is a reminder that we have a permanent home in heaven that Jesus Himself has prepared for us! Let us not forget that the Holy Spirit is sent to us as a Guide and Protector so that we don’t lose our way back to God the Father. Meanwhile, let us be strong and take courage as we continue life’s journey and allow the Holy Spirit to help us fulfill our Christian mission on earth.