Christ’s Ascension and Our Mission
May 28, 2006 Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (B) - White
First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 47 "God mounts his throne to shouts of joy; a blare of trumpets for the Lord!"
Second Reading: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
Gospel: Mark 16:15-20
"They went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs." (Mark 16:20)
The Paschal Mystery of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection exposed to us profoundly the dynamic nature of Christ being human and divine. Most importantly, his Resurrection from the dead demonstrated his full divinity, being the only Son of the Most High and “the king of glory, the conqueror of sin and death.” (Preface of the Ascension I). Our celebration of Easter does not end with Jesus’ apparitions, but instead it stretches until the day “He ascended above all the heavens,” and “poured into the hearts” of his disciples “the Holy Spirit” (Preface of the Holy Spirit I). Hence, the celebration of the Ascension is an integral part of the Easter mystery, for it brings into completion the work of the Resurrection. Ascension did not put an end to Jesus’ presence in this world. Rather, the Ascension merely continued the work of Christ here on earth through his disciples and his Church and paved the way for him to reveal more about his nature and mystery, that his “return to the Father was necessary for sending the Spirit,” that promised day when the Church will find her beginnings. (CFC 650).
The Ascension of our Lord brings out basic truths about our Christian Faith that we must be able to know by heart and live our daily lives (cf. CFC 651).
The Ascension marks Jesus exaltation. “The Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven and took his seat at God’s right hand” (Mark 16:19). Jesus’ exaltation began during his Paschal Mystery. But as we said it, the Ascension completes the Paschal Mystery; hence, this event marks continuity in Jesus’ revelation of his own exaltation. The Ascension must also be understood as a farewell of Jesus to his humanity to open the doors for his divinity upon the heavenly realm. The Ascension concretizes and makes visible the exaltation of Christ. “As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight…suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them” (Acts 1:9-10).
The Ascension does not separate Christ from us. Jesus’ going up to heaven does not signal an end but rather it signals a start. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to continue his work here on earth. He is seen through the Spirit. He is felt through the Spirit. One passage from the Gospel of John alludes to his ascension: “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (Jn 12:32). Jesus does not separate from us, but rather, because of the Ascension, he gathers us to himself and makes us come to share in his place in the kingdom of the Father.
Christ’s Ascension continues the mystery of his own Priesthood. Christ does not go back to the Father simply to live a life for himself and rest from his earthly ministry. Rather, Jesus was taken back by the Father to be our intercessor and “mediator between God and Man” (Preface of the Ascension I), our great High Priest, “that he might appear on our behalf” (Heb 9:24) to the Father.
The Ascension is a foretaste of heaven. “Christ is the beginning, the head of the Church; where he has gone, we hope to follow” (Preface of the Ascension I). This means our own elevation to salvation as well, bringing the Body to follow in hope. Christ did not, cannot and will not forget his beloved here on earth. It is in fact that he became human for us, and he ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us. “Our destiny is final and eternal communion with God and to share in his glory” (Raas, B. The Liturgical Year Vol. II).
What does Jesus want from us? Here enters the missionary aspect of the Ascension. He sent his disciples to all nations, baptizing people. The missionary work of his disciples does not end in knowing and sharing the message of Christ. Instead, this work is of living that message of Christ. In today’s world, going to mass is essential to Catholic faith. But what is more important is that we live what we learn in the mass; and living this faith and being men and women for others makes possible our share in Christ’s divine life. The Ascension does not only challenge us to be faithful people but also makes us work and live our faith in Christ, centred in his Paschal Mystery. Amen.
