SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD – A: 5th June, 2011 Acts 1:1-11; Ps. 46:2-3.6-9; Eph. 1:17-23; Mt. 28:16-20

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD – A: 5th June, 2011

Acts 1:1-11; Ps. 46:2-3.6-9; Eph. 1:17-23; Mt. 28:16-20

My dear Brothers and Sisters,

With the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, which we celebrate today, the life of Jesus comes full circle. He came from the Father in heaven, became man and dwelt among us. He was crucified, died and was buried, rose from the dead and appeared in His risen glory to His disciples. Having accomplished His mission on earth, Jesus returns to the Father in heaven handing over His mission to us to go and make disciples of all the nations. What a precious privilege and an awesome responsibility!

The Ascension of Jesus into heaven is a mystery of hope. Where He the head has gone, we His members hope to follow. Jesus has not abandoned us. In fact, He has promised to be with us always even unto the end of time. He has gone ahead to prepare a place for us so that we His disciples may be where He is. Life on earth is a valley of tears but in heaven there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more suffering, and no more death.

What is the message of the Ascension for us? This feast teaches us that heaven is our real homeland, our final destination. We are pilgrims in this world, passengers in transit. We need to travel light and make sure that we collect and cling to only that which we can take with us into eternity. All the material possessions that we grab and grasp, all the money which we selfishly accumulate, all the good things of life that we hoard rather than share with those who have not – all these we will have to leave behind. Empty handed we came into this world and empty handed shall we leave! It is better not to be encumbered by excess baggage! We need to do load shedding while we are alive rather than be overburdened with loads that we cannot carry in death. When we travel light the journey becomes more pleasant for us and for others as well.

The feast of the Ascension teaches us further that we are citizens of two worlds: the present and the future, the here-and-now and the hereafter, time and eternity, earth and heaven. We need to be immersed and involved in the things of this world but never so engage our energies that we lose sight of the world to come. Foolish is that traveller who gets so distracted by the wayside as to forget his destination!

Finally, the Ascension reminds us that we were made for God. Our hearts were made for God and they will continue to be restless until they find their rest in God. Our human heart is so big that only God can fully satisfy it. The old Catechism put it so plainly yet so profoundly. In answer to the question “Why did God make you? it replied: God made me to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him for ever in heaven! Jesus is the Way to heaven. He has taught us that way. He himself has walked that way. It is the way of love. It is a narrow and a difficult way but a sure way and few take it; the way to perdition is broad and easy. Alas many take it!

The holy Eucharist is food for the way. We receive Jesus in Holy Communion which is a foretaste of being with and beholding Him in heaven for ever. Amen.

[St. Tudwal Church, Barmouth – Msgr. Alex Rebello (588 Words)]