ACTS 1:1-11

In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for "the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." When they had gathered together they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."

EPHESIANS 1:17-23

Brothers and sisters: May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might: which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

MATTHEW 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."

Our opening prayer tells us: “God our Father, may we follow him [Jesus] into the new creation.” By this physical ascension, Jesus expressed his passage beyond time and space, into eternity, to dwell with the Father and share his glory.

What does the ascension of Jesus mean to us? The physical departure of Jesus is the prelude to Pentecost. As Jesus said at the Last Supper, “… It is better. For if I do not go, the Advocate (the Holy Spirit) will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)

In today’s first reading, Jesus tells his disciples to be his witnesses to the ends of the world. And in the Gospel reading he tells them to be his teachers to the world. It is as if Jesus were telling his disciples, “You have been with me all these years. You have seen how I live my life and carry out my mission. Now, it is your turn to continue the mission.”

The Feast of the Ascension might be compared to the passing of the baton in a relay race. On this day over 2,000 years ago, Jesus passed the baton of responsibility for the Kingdom of God to his followers. Jesus commissioned them to complete the work he had begun.

Concretely, what does this mean? How do you and I carry out Jesus’ commission to be his witnesses to the world and to be his teachers to the nations? Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel, “Make disciples of all the nations, baptize them, and teach them the way of Christ.” There are many ways to do this, as there are Christians.

There are many ways of carrying out the commission of Jesus. It’s to become witnesses and teachers in the homes, in our work places, in our schools, in politics and business. We simply make an effort to become the kind of persons the Holy Spirit inspires us to be.

We witness to Jesus and teach others by our love, when others need us — by our patience when others annoy us, by our forgiveness when others wrong us, by our honesty when others are corrupt and dishonest, by our fidelity to the spouse and family, when many are unfaithful, by our concern for public and community interest when others behave “kanya-kanya” or are guided by “I and mine before others” mentality; and by our perseverance when we feel like quitting.

Our lives and actions speak more eloquently than our lips do when it comes to witnessing and teaching. People would much rather see a sermon than listen to one.

The message of the Ascension is a simple one: Jesus invites us to take from his hand the baton he received from his Father and to continue the work that his Father gave him to do on earth. It’s witnessing to Jesus and teaching other people about him wherever we find ourselves, and in whatever manner the Holy Spirit inspires us to use.

In summary, witnessing to Jesus and teaching others about him is simply sharing with them our own faith and love. It’s sharing with them the one treasure we have to share.

This is what Ascension is all about. It’s simply taking seriously Jesus’ invitation to be his witness to this world and his teacher to the nations.

“And I will be with you, always,” Jesus assures us, “to the end of time.”

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Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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