THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
(Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20)
There are only two accounts of the Ascension in the Bible;
both were written by Luke. The first is found in his Gospel, and the second in
the Acts of the Apostles. Interestingly, the accounts do not agree, at least
regarding the day of the event. In the Gospel, the Ascension takes place on the
night of the Resurrection. In Acts, Jesus stays with his disciples for forty
days before ascending into heaven.
We may ask: which date is correct? Scholars do not offer a
definitive answer to this question. They say that Luke probably wanted to
conclude his Gospel on the very day of the Resurrection, the event of overwhelming
importance for the Church, then and now. Meanwhile, they view the forty days of
appearances as symbolic, indicating a period of instruction parallel to Jesus’
time in the desert. In any case, they consider the date of the Ascension less
important than its meaning.
The Ascension affirms the lordship of Jesus Christ. When he
ascends into heaven, the Father gives him all power to guide the events of the
world to their fulfillment. He does this through the Holy Spirit, who forms the
Church as the Body of Christ. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Church
proclaims the Gospel to the whole world. In this way, it offers all men and
women the opportunity to embrace salvation. While Jesus remains in the world,
the Spirit stays with him. But once he takes his place at the Father’s side,
the Son asks the Father to send the Spirit upon us. The Spirit makes us members
of his Body to carry out his mission in the world.
We receive the Holy Spirit in Baptism. His presence within
us is strengthened through Confirmation and the Eucharist. What are we going to
do with so great a gift? In today’s Gospel, Jesus sends the apostles to all
nations to teach what he has commanded. We can fulfill our role in this great
mission by living with the selfless love inspired by the Spirit. Or we can
avoid participation in the mission until the power of the Spirit atrophies
within us like muscles that are never moved.
If we pray daily, asking the Lord for our relatives and
companions, for those in need, and even for our enemies, we are fulfilling our
role in the great mission of Jesus Christ. If we carry out our work well,
fulfill our responsibilities at home, and live faithfully as citizens, we are
fulfilling our role in the great mission. If we visit the sick, share our
resources with the less fortunate, or teach those who lack education, we are
also fulfilling our role in the mission.
On the other hand, if we pray only when we feel like it, we
are avoiding participation in the mission of Jesus. If we always seek our own
comfort, the praise of others, or financial gain, we are avoiding participation
in the mission. If we perform no works of mercy, whether corporal or spiritual,
we are also avoiding the mission.
There is a widow in El Paso, Texas, who for more than twenty
years crossed the border once a week to teach English to the women of a sewing
cooperative. Now, in her old age, she can no longer travel as before. Yet she
continues serving the poor by writing thank-you notes to the cooperative’s
benefactors. She is a living example of a person filled with the Holy Spirit,
carrying out her role in the mission of Jesus.
Next Sunday we will celebrate Pentecost, the feast of the
Holy Spirit. We will remember the coming of the Spirit upon the apostles and
how he drove them out from the Temple to preach the Lord Jesus to the ends of
the earth. The same Spirit sends us forth from this and every Mass to carry out
our role in the mission of Jesus.
