The Ascension (12.05.13)
In today’s readings, Luke tells us that Jesus’ return to His Father is the completion of His mission, while at the same time it marks the beginning of a new age, so the Ascension is an ending and a beginning.
Jesus tells his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until the coming of the Holy Spirit, who will empower them to go out and minister to all peoples. This same Holy Spirit empowers the community of believers today. That is why the approaching feast of Pentecost is so important. Not only is it a memory of the beginning of the Church, but also a celebration of the heart of the Church today. Each of us is a part of that Church through our Baptism, with our individual and unique role to play through the power of the same Holy Spirit.
When Christ entered our world, St. Paul tells us, “He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant” and having completed His earthly mission, God raised Him up in glory.
On this day, we celebrate the glorification of Christ. He wants us to share in His glory, when our earthly journey is ended. Let us reflect a moment on the glory to which Christ calls us.
Today, the Church invites us to celebrate the ascension of Jesus to the right hand of the Father. It is a day of great joy. Although He is no longer physically amongst us, He has not abandoned us, but lives on in us. He continues to be born, to live and to die in each of us. Our mission then is to witness to His presence in the world. We do this by showing that, in spite of difficult circumstances, we continue to trust in God, and live according to His Will.
On Ascension Day, Jesus withdrew His physical presence from His disciples, who thenceforth lived by Faith, as do we, His followers, down through the ages.
Physical absence does not mean absence of presence.
People can be very close to one another even though separated by thousands of miles.
For those who love one another there is no such place as “far away”.
Actually, in order for people to grow and mature , there must be periods of absence as well as presence. We have heard of “the dark night of the soul”, when God seems to be out of reach. Surely it is precisely at such testing times that we long for signs of His abiding, loving, caring, merciful presence!
How true then is the saying: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder!”
Lord Jesus, raised in glory to the Father’s right hand, may your Spirit create a bond of love between us, so that whenever we think of you we will never be alone.