THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
29 MAY 2022
In
matters of faith, we run into limitations of language as we try to explain,
articulate, and make sense of the mysteries that we celebrate. Words fail us in explaining our experiences
of a mystery that is far greater than ourselves. Even in terms of human interactions,
limitations of language keep us from describing to someone else the totality of
the person we love the most. We can
try. We can come up with qualities,
physical attributes, and personality traits of the person. But with words, we fall short of expressing
all of who that person is.
This
limitation of language certainly applies to the Solemnity that we celebrate
today. This Solemnity is so crucial to
the Paschal Mystery that our Bishops have transferred it from the fortieth day
of Easter (last Thursday) to this Sunday.
They wanted as many people as possible to celebrate the Ascension. Of course, the words we hear tell us that the
risen Christ “was lifted up to be seated at God’s right hand”. But what does that really mean?
We can see
the limitations of language in our attempts to describe this mystery. Saint Luke wrote the Gospel, his first
volume. He also wrote the Acts of the
Apostles, his second volume. We heard
from both today. Both are accounts of
the Ascension. But both are different. The differences show the limitations of
trying to put a mystery into human language.
The limitations of language also are reflected in the remarks made by
the first Soviet Cosmonaut launched into space.
Reflecting his atheistic origins, he bragged: “I went up to heaven and did not see
God.” He obviously did not understand
that the reality of heaven is not confined to space and time. Heaven is a reality that exists, a mystery
beyond our comprehension.
But both
accounts are trying to express the same reality. What we celebrate today is one special aspect
of the mystery of Christ’s resurrection.
Christ was raised from the dead.
That is what we have been celebrating during this last seven weeks. The risen Lord is truly alive. He appeared to his disciples. He gave them the gift of peace, forgiving
them for abandoning him in his darkest hour.
He showed them the wounds in his hands and feet and side. He ate with them. With the Ascension, we celebrate the
exaltation of the risen Lord. He is no
longer confined by space and time. He is
in heaven. But the risen Lord also remains
present to us in so many ways. He is
especially present in the Sacramental life of the Church.
So, what
should we do in response to this mystery of the Ascension of the Lord? We can do what the Lord tells his original
disciples. He tells them them to stay in
Jerusalem and wait for the power of the Holy Spirit. It was the first Novena. We can do the same. We can wait with the Lord and pray for a new
outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Once we
become open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we cannot stand around and look up
into the skies. We become more aware of
the mystery experienced by the Lord’s first disciples. In the absence of the Lord’s physical body,
we are the Body of Christ, carrying on his mission in the world.
As we
prepare for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit next Sunday, please be open to
the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Be
sure to discern the gifts that God has given you. Respond with boldness to the ways that the
Holy Spirit prompts you to serve as the Lord has served you. As the original disciples proclaimed the
message of forgiveness and reconciliation, be open to the ways all of us can
move beyond the anger and bitterness and divisions of the past two years to
reconciliation and respect for one another, even in our differences. The Ascension may be a mystery. But our
celebration today is really a call to action, even in the midst of the
limitations of language to describe it.
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