In my earlier days, I travelled for work. Sometimes I was gone for a few days and at other times for a week. My wife, Candi, travelled extensively for years leaving on Sunday evening and returning Friday night. For many years, she averaged 30 to 35 weeks annually. Our standing joke is that it kept us together as a couple because we always have new stories to tell one another to keep our relationship fresh and alive.
One thing we had in common about travelling is that we were happy to return home. We worked hard while on the road, but home gave us a lingering perspective that no matter how difficult being away was, home reminded us of our love for one another and those to whom we returned.
It would seem to me that Jesus experienced many of the same feelings we did, even though it was on a divine level as the Son of God returning to His Father. In obedience to the will of His Father, He worked hard in His 33 years of humanity to bring God’s message of love through teaching, miracles, suffering, death and resurrection. Now He is our judge to bring us either to life everlasting or to eternal damnation depending on our acceptance or rejection of all He did for us while on earth.
One of the questions I asked of a believer in respect to Christ’s Ascension, is what does ascension mean for you in your life? The response was “rising above adversity of this world in negativity and hate.” The person added to that, “to be a better example, not just following the crowd.”
The answer is spot on and encapsulates St. Matthew’s Gospel and the readings for this Sunday celebration of Jesus’ Ascension to His home, the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus has completed His earthly work of redemption. He has proved to His Apostles and those who believe in Him that He is the Messiah, that He has overcome death and will be with them until the end of time.
In the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus tells His Apostles and us, His believers, that we will be His witnesses until the end of earth. Isn’t that about being a better example and not following the crowd?
St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians is about leading a life worthy of a vocation to which all of us are called. By our Baptism and Confirmation we are to maintain peace of the Holy Spirit as it pertains to the Body of Christ, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and in the Holy Spirit of God. Isn’t that about rising above the adversity and hate of this world?
Ascension sets the scene for the Descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost who blessed the Apostles and reminds us of how the Holy Spirit works in our lives. By the truth of our belief in the Holy Trinity we now are the physical and spiritual presence of God on earth who fulfill the sacred commission of Jesus to preach, evangelize and heal those in need as we are allowed by the gifts God has given us.
Though we will be working for God on earth until we return to our home in heaven, we know that we follow Jesus’ footsteps in all He did for us during His time on earth and continues to do for us while He is in heaven. Our comfort lies in the work we do on His behalf will fulfill His promise to award us eternal life if we trust in His ways. Rising above negativity and hate seems to be path we can all follow in remembrance of Jesus’ Ascension.
Reading 1: Acts 1: 1-11
Reading 2: Ephesians 1: 17-23
Gospel: Matthew 28: 16-20
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