Daily Catholic Reflection: May 13, 2021, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Year B (Or Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter)

Acts 1:1-11,

Psalm 47:2-3,6-9,

Ephesians 1:17-23, or Eph 4:1-13 or 4:1-7, 11-13

Mt 28:16-20                Full Readings          

For those who shift Ascension to Sunday, see the Reflection here.

Our Lady of Fatima 

Go into the Whole World

Brethren, the time has come, Jesus is leaving His Apostles as he has always been telling them since Easter; it is the end of Jesus’ mission here on earth, a mission he has carefully, dedicatedly, and fully finished, leaving the mantle to the Apostles to carry it on not only in Jerusalem but to all the ends of the earth in his name under the guidance of the Holy Spirit who will come on the Pentecost day. The mission he leaves to the Apostles and to all of us is:  “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.” This mission will be accompanied by signs like: “in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” After this mission, Jesus left the and the Apostles saw him face to face as He ascended to heaven. This of course might have been a sad experience for them, but they had a promise of the Paraclete and a continuing presence among them (Mark 16: 15-20).

 

In the first reading, Luke, in the Acts of Apostles, tells us much about what Ascension is. Firstly, it happened 40 days after Easter but these should not be carefully and literally counted. In biblical language ‘40’ makes just ‘a fairly long period’, often a period of preparation, like Jesus’ 40 days being tested in the desert, or Israel’s 40 years of the Exodus, and Elijah fasted for forty days as he journeyed in the wilderness to the mountain of God. For the forty days after Easter, it is the time that Jesus has been preparing his apostles for mission without Him. Secondly, Ascension is the definitive parting of the physical Jesus, after which the Risen Christ is no longer with his disciples. It is now the Spirit of Christ which is at the heart of the Church, inspiring all her activity. Thirdly, Luke presents Jesus as a prophet (and more than a prophet), so he leaves his disciples in the same way as the prophet Elijah, who was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot, leaving his disciple Elisha to carry on his work, filled with a double share of his spirit. It's a day of great commissioning.

 

Why did Jesus ascend to Heaven? The gospels give many answers to this question. Firstly, He had to go back to the Father, to sit on His throne as the Lord of all heaven and earth because His Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). He was always telling His Apostles that he had to go and prepare a place for them and us too in His Father's House, and so he went to prepare a place for us (John 14:3). He ascended so that the Paraclete will come to be with us always (John 16:17). However, His ascension was just an end of physical presence and a starting to appear in the new way: Spiritual way and the Apostles were to continue with witnessing him through all nations.

Pope Francis adds,“The Ascension does not point to Jesus’s absence, but tells us that he is alive in our midst in a new way. He is now...present in every space and time, close to each one of us. In our life we are never alone: we have this Advocate who awaits us, who defends us.” Before Jesus died on the cross, he promised that he would send the Holy Spirit to be with his people to accompany them. It is through this gentle Spirit that we perceive the presence of God and receive comfort, consolation, and wisdom to prepare us for our eternal destiny.

Christ's Ascension marks the definitive entrance of Jesus's humanity into God's heavenly domain. Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, precedes us into the Father's glorious kingdom so that we, the members of his body, may live in the hope of one day being with him forever (Catechism of the Catholic Church 665 and 666). For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). Every time we receive the Eucharist, we receive a “taste of heaven,” which by God’s grace can deepen our faith and our holy anticipation of eternity. 

 

Ascension to us who believe in Jesus means that Jesus will come again and take us to be with him face to face with all our bodies glorified as his (Philippians 3: 21).  Pope Francis said that “entering the glory of God demands daily fidelity to his will, even when it demands sacrifice and sometimes requires us to change our plans.” It is known that Jesus’s ascension happened on the Mount of Olives where he had prayed to the Father before the Passion. It was Our Lord’s love of his Father that enabled him to endure suffering and death, and then return to the place of encounter to be raised into heaven. Through our relationship with the Father, we also receive the grace to be faithful to God’s will, and may we one day reap the benefits—eternity with him. With Jesus, we say, “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

 

When we faithfully take part in the great commissioning we see in the Gospel today, Jesus will never leave us alone and so no need to worry. We only need to respond to Him in faith, become His disciple by being baptised and following his teachings as well as carrying out the mission he entrusts to us daily whether in big or small ways. In this way we shall be able to recognize his presence among us and in our lives. 

 

Reflect, today, upon your calling to not only share in this glorious moment of the Ascension of Jesus but also your calling to go forth and to do all you can to draw others into this new life. Reflect upon Jesus, Who also speaks to you today to invite you to bring others to Christ. By teaching friends, family and all with whom God has entrusted to you to share the Gospel, you fulfill Christ’s mission to “go into the whole world” to gather the scattered people into the one fold of Christ so as to ascend with Him one day into eternity.

 

Let us Pray.

Lord Jesus, you promised that you will be with us always and indeed you are with us. May your presence in our lives transform us and may it be seen in what we do and say. Amen. 

 

Blessed Ascension Day.