THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
13 MAY 2018
Several
years ago, the Bishops moved the Solemnity of the Ascension from the fortieth
day of Easter to this Sunday. Their
concern was that too many Catholics were not present on a Thursday, and that
many more would be present on Sunday.
The Ascension is an integral part of the Paschal Mystery. However, the move wreaked havoc with the
number forty. In the Acts of the
Apostles, Saint Luke says that Jesus spent forty days with his disciples after
he rose from the dead, presenting many proofs after he had suffered and
speaking of the kingdom of God.
The number
forty indicates that we are dealing with a Mystery when we reflect on the
Ascension. In the Book of Genesis, it
rained forty days and forty nights to create the flood. The Israelites spent forty years in the
desert learning how to act like free people.
The prophet Elijah walked forty days to reconnect the Covenant at Mount
Horeb. Jesus spent forty days in the
desert to prepare for his public ministry.
We spent forty days during Lent in praying, fasting, and giving alms to
prepare to celebrate the Paschal Mysteries.
Saint Luke uses this symbolic number to indicate that the risen Christ
had spent sufficient time with his disciples to prepare those who had witnessed
the resurrection for the mission of the Church.
That is the
challenge for us as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension. We have reflected on the presence of the
Risen Lord in the Sacramental life of the Church for over forty days during
this Easter Season. The Scriptures have
invited us to recognize his risen presence in our daily lives. In doing so, we are like those original
disciples in many ways. Even though
Jesus had clearly taught about the kingdom of God, they still wanted the
kingdom to conform to their ideas. As
Jesus departs, they want to see God’s kingdom freeing them from the domination
of the Romans. Despite hearing the Word
of God every Sunday, we still cling to our own ideas of what God’s kingdom
should look like in our world. They
stand there looking up at the sky, paralyzed with fear. We tend to do the same; fearful about taking
new steps to put ourselves in humbles service of others. They are told to wait for the Holy
Spirit. We are invited to wait and pray
for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
In today’s
Gospel, Jesus gives his disciples a commission.
They are to go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every
creature. He gives the same commission
to us, his disciples today. Like those
earliest disciples, we are sent to drive out the demons of hate and division
with words and actions of respect. We
are given the new language of love at Pentecost. Unlike Adam and Eve, we can handle the
serpent, whose real power was destroyed by the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ. That is why people stomp on the
image of the serpent when they enter into the main door of our church. As much as there are so many poisonous
elements of our culture, they cannot harm us.
We can extend the healing hand of Jesus Christ to those who are sick
through our pastoral care for them.
Saint Paul
reminds us in his letter to the Ephesians that God has given each of us gifts
to build up the unity of the Church, centered in Jesus Christ. We go into the world and proclaim the gospel
to every creature not only with our words, but with humble service. It is ironic that we celebrate the Mystery of
the Ascension on Mother’s Day. If we
want to serve with humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another
through love, we look to our mothers and grandmothers. They teach us the paradox of the
Ascension. The risen Christ is more
present to us now than he could have been in his earthly ministry, located in
one geographical place. Through the
power of the Holy Spirit, he encourages us to continue his ministry in our own
time. To all mothers, thank you for
showing us the face of Christ.
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