Homily for the Solemnity of the Ascension: Don't just stand there looking at the sky, call on the Holy Spirit

 

We heard in the first reading today of the two men saying to the disciples after Jesus was taken up into the clouds, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?”     

 

The disciples must have been dumbfounded thinking what in the world just happened here?  

 

Jesus had miraculously risen from the dead 40 days earlier, and now he has vanished into the clouds. 

 

This must have been a shock and they were probably in fear of what is going to happen now that Jesus is gone.

 

They are given some reassurance by the two men that Jesus would return just as he was seen going away to the heavens.

 

He would also continue to be with them always in Sacraments which would only be possible by the coming of the Holy Spirit.

 

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension.  

 

This is the belief of our faith that we proclaim each time we recite the Creed, “He Ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.”  

 

What did the Ascension mean to the disciples and what does it mean to us today?

 

Jesus had ministered public for three years, suffered and died on the cross, rose from the dead, and appeared to the disciples in his Glorified body for forty days.  

 

He had appeared many times over this period and spoke to them about establishing God’s Kingdom.  

 

But the disciple still didn’t get it. 

 

They were focused on the issue of the day: Restoring the kingdom of Israel.  

 

But Jesus had greater plans in mind for them: They were going to witness the Gospel of Jesus to the whole world, not just in Jerusalem.

 

How was this going to happen?

 

The disciples had been following Jesus for the past three years, but they now had a new mission to spread the Gospel throughout the world.   

 

If Jesus were still physically present with them, they’d be limited to where he was physically located in spreading the Gospel.

 

By ascending to heaven, Christ gave them the divine power to accomplish their mission in another way where Christ’s presence is without limits.

 

The Holy Spirit would empower them to proclaim Jesus through the eyes of faith in Jesus' and his real presence in the Sacraments.

 

St. Leo the Great, said this very well:

 

And so our Redeemer’s visible presence has passed in the sacraments. 

 

Our faith is noble and stronger because sight has been replaced by a doctrine whose authority is accepted by believing hearts, enlightened from on high. 

 

This faith was increased by the Lord’s ascension and strengthened by the gift of the Spirit.

 

Jesus’ Ascension also accomplished something else: It opened the doorway to heaven for the rest of humanity.  

 

Jesus is now a powerful intercessor in heaven to reconcile us with Father.

 

Jesus' ascension bridges the gap between heaven and earth.  

 

Where do we find that bridge in the world?

 

In the Church through the Sacraments!

 

 

The Holy Spirit is sent to the disciples so they could spread the good news throughout the world.

 

This brought about the birth of the Church. 

 

In the book of Acts, we hear about the disciple's witness to Jesus' resurrection in their travels far and wide.  

 

They face many trials and tribulations in their travels and flee from one town to another to escape from being injured or killed.  

 

But this is just part of the plan to spread the Gospel and for the Church to grow. 

 

How will they do all this?  

 

Through the Holy Spirit, which is mentioned over 80 times in the Book of Acts. 

 

In Acts, we hear the disciples doing incredible works, healing the sick and raising the dead.

 

Many of the miracles are the same done by Jesus and are made possible through the Holy Spirit to bring people to believe and have faith in Jesus.

 

The Holy Spirit enabled the growth of the Church and gave the disciple power to do great things.

 

They followed Jesus' commission, to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

 

The Holy Spirit is what makes it possible for Jesus to be with us always until the end of the age through the Sacraments of the Church, especially in the Eucharist.

 

 

The Church is Christ’s Body and where heaven meets the earth. 

 

What and who is the Church? 

 

It’s each one of us, as the Body of Christ, in doing our part in witnessing to the Gospel. 

 

And how do we do this? 

 

By our words and deeds to announce the good news and be Christ-like to others.

 

A famous quote of St. Teresa of Avila sums up our role in spreading the Gospel quite well:

 

Christ has no body on earth but yours.

 

Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassionately on this world.

 

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good.

 

Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world.

 

Christ has no body now on earth but yours!"   

 

To strengthen us in this mission we come to Mass each week to receive the graces of the Eucharist to be Christ’s body, hands, and feet in the world.

 

We can also pray daily and listen with our hearts as to where God is calling us to make a difference.

 

The Our Father is a great reminder of this mission when we pray, “Thy kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”.   

 

 

The world today certainly needs God’s kingdom to come.

 

It’s very much like the first century during Roman rule.

 

There is a lack of respect for the life and dignity of the human person, threats to our religious liberty, and a secular culture that has little concern for God. 

 

At the end of each Mass, we hear the dismissal: Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord, where are sent to make a difference in the world.

 

By each of us living this out, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can do our part in spreading the good news and making God's kingdom present.

 

Jesus commanded his disciples to witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

 

We can do the same with the people in Greenwood, Bargersville, and Indianapolis in our daily lives.

 

Throughout the day, we can invoke the power of the Holy Spirit to inspire us to spread God’s Kingdom, by praying a short prayer: “Come Holy Spirit”.

 

It can be very simple things we do, that can make a big difference in bringing others to Christ.

 

We can say a kind word to the person who rubs us the wrong way at home or work.

 

We can invite a classmate to play a game who is normally included in our activities.  

 

We can volunteer or donate to a local food pantry or homeless shelter to help people with their basic needs.

 

We can visit someone who is shut-in or at a care facility who doesn’t have any family or friends to visit.

 

So don’t just stand there looking up at the sky.  

 

Call on the Holy Spirit to help make God’s Kingdom present here in the world so people can come to know and have faith in the Lord Jesus by our witness in being Christ’s disciples.