Ascension, Cycle C, 6-1-25

 Today is the Ascension of the Lord. 

 

Jesus has been with the disciples for some time after the resurrection, but now it is time for him to return to his heavenly Father. Jesus had told the disciples many times that he would return to the Father. But some of them still did not fully understand the Mission of Jesus had for them: To spread the message of redemption to all mankind for those who believe that Jesus is the redeemer and have faith in him to give them eternal life. Some of the disciples were still focused on worldly things: The restoration of the Kingdom of Isael. They wanted to know when this was going take place. Jesus answered with something much more important. They would be the witnesses proclaiming Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection, and eternal life to all who believe in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth! To do so, Jesus would have to leave, for a time.    The disciples would not be reliant on Jesus physical presence anymore .They would be given the gift of the spiritual sacramental presence of Jesus, to spread throughout the world, empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

 

 

The disciples did see Jesus lifted and disappearing into the clouds.  This was not totally foreign to them from their knowledge of Scripture.  God came down in a cloud upon Mount Horeb, where Moses encountered the Lord.  Some of them also encountered the cloud that covered the mount of Transfiguration, when they heard the Father’s voice announce, “This is my beloved Son.” This was an encounter of heaven meeting earth, or where the spiritual meets the physical.  Jesus came to earth in his humanity and returns to be with the Father in his divinity, to carry out his mission redeeming the world through his disciples. Two men dressed in white mysteriously appear to the disciples after Jesus had ascended. I think these were angels who gave a message of reassurance that Jesus would return in the same way that they saw him going to heaven.  He would return physically in the future coming down among the people in his resurrected body. He would be with them spiritually in the Sacraments, most substantially in the Eucharist, through his priests, empowered by the Holy Spirit.   Christ could be sacramentally present throughout the world in the Holy Eucharist and the Sacraments of the Church. 

 

 

Last Sunday we heard Jesus tell his disciples that he would be leaving them: The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have told you. Peace, I leave with you, my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives, I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, or afraid. You have heard me tell you, I am going away and will come back to you. Everything Jesus told the disciples has now happened.    He gave them his peace to sustain them, as they wait for his return, and the Holy Spirit to empower them so they could carry his message to the world. 

 

Earlier this week I read a homily on the Ascension by St. Leo the Great, Pope. I’d like to share a section of that with you: At Easter, beloved brethren, it was the Lord’s resurrection which was the cause of our joy; our present rejoicing is on account of his ascension into heaven.  With all due solemnity we are commemorating that day on which our poor human nature was carried up, in Christ, above all the hosts of heaven, above all the ranks of angels, beyond the highest heavenly powers to the very throne of God the Father. And so, our Redeemer’s visible presence has passed into the sacraments.  Our faith is nobler 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; it would remain unshaken by fetters and imprisonment, exile and hunger, fire and ravening beasts, and the most refined tortures ever devised by brutal persecutors.  Throughout the world women no less than men, tender girls as well as boys, have given their life’s blood in the struggle for this faith. It is a faith that has driven out devils, healed the sick and raised the dead. I thought this was a beautiful sermon on Jesus’ bodily ascension being the visible entry to eternal life for all who have faith in him.  St. Leo the Great’s words are a reminder for us of so many Saints, who gave their lives because of their faith in Jesus’ promise of eternal life.     

Saint Maria Goretti and Saint Maximillian Kolbe are two of these Saints that come to mind.  They both lived in the 20th century. Saint Maria was only twelve when she gave her life to defend her purity.  She appeared in a dream years later to the man who killed her and saved his life.  Saint Maximillian, a priest in the World War II Auschwitz concentration camp, offered his life to save Jewish father from being killed.  I’d encourage to look up the stories of the virtuous lives of these Saint that empowered them to give their lives through their faith Jesus and eternal life he gave them.  

 

Let us all joyfully wait like the disciples for the coming of the Holy Spirt to be clothed with power form on high, so we can join them in spreading the hope of eternal life through Jesus salvation to all the nations.