Sunday, May 21, 2023

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD, May 21, 2023

(Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20)

Today we celebrate one of the biggest feasts of the liturgical year. The Solemnity of the Ascension commemorates the second part of the triumph of Jesus Christ over death. As we profess in the Creed, “…he rose again on the third day…and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father…” With the presence of Jesus, the Father will send the Holy Spirit to complete the victory.

For a moment our posture towards the Ascension is that of the apostles in the first reading. We are left in awe admiring the glory of God in heaven. However, as the angels rouse the eleven to action, we must consider what the Ascension means today. The gospel helps us with this task.

The passage constitutes the very end of the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. Jesus has already risen and ascended to heaven. He now appears to his disciples as promised since the discovery of the empty tomb. They go to the designated mountain. When they see Jesus, they fall down in adoration. However, some of them doubt that it is really he. They are like many today who say that it has never happened that a person has risen from the dead. Of course, Jesus’ resurrection is a unique event in history made possible by his relationship to God the Father as the only begotten Son.

The second reading says that Jesus, seated at the right hand of the Father, has all power in heaven, on earth and even in the future. Because Jesus tells the apostles that he has been given all power, we know that he has already ascended to heaven. The power will be used for the good of all. This is why he commands, "'Go therefore and teach all nations'". It is the first step in his plan to renew the world in love.

This phrase is echoed at the end of every Eucharist. After the blessing, the priest or deacon says, “Go in peace” sometimes adding “and announce the gospel”. Jesus sends us today as his apostles to evangelize the inhabitants of the world. This mission is accomplished by "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." We have the Sermon on the Mount as a model of the breadth and depth of this task. The lesson will include love even for the enemy, modesty even to keeping lustful eyes in check, pleasing God to the point of shunning praise, and practicing justice until our society shines like a city on a mountaintop.

Still the instruction is not yet complete. Jesus adds the need to baptize. The baptism forms a spiritual nation overlaying the different cultures and peoples that comprise the world. It draws all who heed Jesus’ word into one body – the Church – with him as its head to bring about world peace.

Even more than we do, Jesus realizes the enormity of this mission. It will involve billions of people for generations, centuries, even millenniums. Therefore, Jesus does not hesitate to add, "'... I will be with you always ... '" He fulfills this promise by sending the Holy Spirit to bring about his presence. The Spirit encourages us with trust in Jesus.  It moves us to turn to him in trouble. Above all, it transforms bread and wine into his body and blood to strengthen our weakness.

We live in a skeptical time. Even people who claim belief in God do not practice all his commands. With the Ascension Jesus sends us especially to those among us who doubt. With his support we are to teach them the breadth and depth of Jesus’ wisdom. Even more, we are to invite them to share the love of his body, the Church.