SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD, May 29, 2022
(Acts 1,1-11; Ephesians 1,17-23; Luke 24:46-53)
The Solemnity of the Ascension was always celebrated on the
Thursday of the sixth week of Easter. But in the 1960s Rome allowed for a
change of day. Instead of Thursday, it could be held the following Sunday. Of
course, the pope knew that St. Luke specifies the fortieth day. But he was probably
thinking of the workers who couldn't make it to Mass during the week. He wanted
them to participate in this great feast.
Along with the Resurrection and Pentecost, the Ascension
reveals God's plan for human salvation. It recognizes how the Risen One has ascended
to the highest place in heaven as the second reading says. There with his glorified
body he has established a physical place as our ultimate destination. There,
too, Christ asks the Father to send the Spirit to enable us to reach our goal.
Fortified with the Spirit we can bear witness to Jesus in this often hostile
world. Both the reading from the Acts of the Apostles and the gospel attest to
this mission.
In the first reading the disciples continue to gaze upwards
after Jesus’ ascension. The scene represents one of at least four ways to live
the Christian life. In this way we continue looking at the sky, that is, doing
nothing more than waiting for the return of the Lord. We don't care about
mission he left us. We are happy to join in the mass on Sunday and in the
gossip on Monday. As if we were wearing raincoats to protect our spirit, we do
not allow the gospel to penetrate our daily lives.
Another way to live faith is to do the opposite. Instead of
being idle, we are overly ambitious. We want to see quick changes. We may focus
on remodeling the church sanctuary. Or maybe we want to start a food bank for
the poor. It all sounds good, but if we don't orient ourselves with prayer, our
efforts may be in vain. Prayer not only asks for the Lord's help but also
discerns his will. For this reason the disciples in the reading do not go out preaching
immediately. No, they pray first so that they receive the Holy Spirit.
The third way to live the faith is not anticipated in the
readings. However, it is prominent in today's world. For those who follow this
way the disciples do not look at Jesus ascending to heaven. To them the
Ascension has become just a myth to explain the whereabouts of the body of
Jesus. They also do not believe in the resurrection from the dead and in the
Holy Spirit. There are many today who call themselves "Catholic" but
do not accept the tenets of the faith. They claim religion as a storeroom of
customs to mark the stages of life. They
come to church to celebrate one’s birth, childhood, coming of age, marriage and
death.
Saint Luke wants the fourth way for Theophilus, and the
angels recommend it for the disciples. Hopefully, it is also what drives us
forward! In this way to live Christian life we prepare ourselves with prayer
for the mission of proclaiming the gospel. We also retreat to determine what
the needs are and what we can do. Then we out our plan in action. Recently the
Knights of Columbus have given a striking example. With the invasion of the
Ukraine, the knights joined with the rest of the world to pray for peace with
justice. They then collected resources to establish “Mercy Centers” on the
Polish-Ukrainian border. There they have welcomed the refugees from the war.
They provide them not only shelter from hostility but also food and clothing to
survive.
We have described four ways to live the Christian life. There
are others as there are many roads in a city. But all do not take us to the
same place. We want to take those who place us next to Jesus. In one way or
another these paths pass through prayer and mission. If our ultimate destination
is where Jesus is, our path is prayer and mission.
