Dear friends
Today the Church celebrates the glorious Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. At first glance, this feast may seem like a moment of separation, Jesus leaving His disciples and ascending into heaven. But the Ascension is not about Christ abandoning the earth. Rather, it is about Christ entering into His glory, entrusting His mission to the Church, and remaining with us in a new and powerful way. The Ascension is a feast of hope, mission and promise. The readings today reveal three important truths: 1, Christ reigns in glory, 2, the church is sent on mission 3, we are never alone because Christ remains with us.
In the first reading from Acts of the Apostles, the disciples gather around Jesus after His Resurrection. For forty days He has been teaching them about the kingdom of God. Then suddenly, before their eyes, He is lifted up into heaven. Imagine their emotions: wonder, fear, confusion, amazement. As they stare into the sky, two angels ask: “why are you standing there looking at the sky?” The disciples are being taught an important lesson: the mission of Jesus on earth is now entrusted to them. But before the mission comes the revelation of glory. The ascension is the exaltation of Jesus Christ. The one who was born in poverty, rejected by many, scourged and crucified, is now seated at the right hand of the Father.
The second reading from Letter to the Ephesians deepens this mystery beautifully. St Paul the Apostle says that God raised Christ above every principality, authority, power and dominion. This means Jesus is Lord over everything: over history, over nations, over suffering, over sin even over death itself. Sometimes the world appears out of control. We see war, injustice, violence, corruption and suffering. We may wonder where God is. The Ascension answers that question: Christ reigns. Christ reigns from the throne of heaven. And because Christ reigns, Christians are people of hope.
In today’s Gospel from Matthew, Jesus gives His final command “go therefore and make disciples of all nations”. The Ascension is not only about where Jesus goes. It is about what the disciples must now do. The church cannot remain on the mountain. The disciples cannot spend their lives staring at the sky. They are sent into the world. Christianity is missionary by nature. Every baptized person receives this mission. Sometimes we think evangelization belongs only to priests, missionaries, or religious sisters. But Jesus speaks to all disciples. Parents evangelize by teaching faith at home, teachers evangelize through truth and integrity. Young people evangelize through courage and purity. Workers evangelize through honesty and kindness. Every Christian is called to bring Christ into the world. Notice also what Jesus does not say, He does not say: go and conquer nations, instead He says: Make disciples. A disciple is someone who learns from Christ, follows Christ, and becomes like Christ. The mission of the Church is not domination but transformation.
One sentence in the Gospel is very striking: “when they saw Him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Even at the Ascension, some disciples still struggled with doubt. And yet Jesus still entrusts them with His mission. This should give great comfort. God does not wait for perfect people before calling them. The apostles were weak: Peter denied Jesus, Thomas doubted, the disciples fled during the passion. Still Christ chose them. Why? Because mission depends on God’s grace rather than human strength. Many people avoid serving God because they feel unworthy. The apostles also struggled. But the Holy Spirit transformed weak people into courageous witnesses. A few weeks after ascension, these frightened disciples would preach boldly before crowds and rulers. The same spirit works in the Church today.
The feast of Ascension is not a farewell. It is a celebration of victory, a call to mission, and a promise of hope. Christ reigns in glory. The church is sent into the world, and the lord remains with us always. So let us not remain standing and looking at the sky. Let us go forth with faith. Let us witness with courage. Let us live with hope. And may our lives proclaim to the world: Jesus Christ is Lord Yesterday, today and forever. Amen.