The other day we were enjoying some beautiful spring weather. The kind of day you just want to stand outside in the bright sun, soft breeze, and absorb the moment. As I walked outside, I noticed our school children were out on the playground with several teachers so I went over to see what they were up to. The kids were running around on the field flying kites. The sound of laughter was noticeable. Who wouldn’t enjoy this? The wind was not quite strong enough to catch the kites so they chased each other as they dragged their kite behind, tied to a long string, to make it rise into the sky.
One teacher waved as I approached and said “Hi Father.” I said, “What a great day to be flying kites.” “Well, we’re doing it for the Ascension,” she answered. Up, up, and away went Jesus like kites soaring in the sky.
From a child’s perspective that may be one way to explain the event. But we obviously need to see this beautiful feast as a continuum of the Easter mystery. Yes, it appears from the Gospel this Sunday, Luke 24: 46-53 and the Acts of the Apostles 1: 1-11 that Jesus did indeed ascend into the sky. As the Apostles stood there, wide-eyed into the sun, angels questioned them, “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.” So, he’s coming back in the same manner – have you bought your ticket for a front row seat in Jerusalem?
The Gospel supports this same image as it states, “So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God.” So, the kites may be an appropriate symbol after all. I think helium filled balloons would be better since you have to let go of them. Regardless of how we imagine that moment the words of the angels are timely, “Don’t just stand there looking up!” Jesus has left this earth, only temporarily. In the meantime …..
We must see this moment as one more continuous event in the salvation experience wrought by God. It’s all one grand, sweeping divine action: Passion- Death- Resurrection-Ascension-Descent of the Holy Spirit- Sending forth of the Apostles, “to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1)
To the “ends of the earth.” What a pastoral plan that is indeed. That will take a little more time than a five year goal! The Ascension and the gift of the Holy Spirit, which we celebrate next weekend with Pentecost, is a kind of call to arms for the Church; arms not of swords, bullets, or weapons of war. We had our day in that regard – been there and done that – but with the weapon of love, forgiveness, peace, reconciliation, truth, justice, the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, all within and from his Body, the Church.
The Catholic Catechism summarizes three important theological aspects of the Ascension: 1. Christ’s ascension marks the definitive entrance of Jesus’ humanity into God’s heavenly domain. From there he will come again. 2. Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, precedes us into the Father’s kingdom so that we as members of his body the Church may be with him. “Where he has gone, we hope to follow,” as we pray this day. 3. Jesus Christ, risen and eternal, intercedes for us as our mediator before the Father which assures the constant outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It is not only the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit independently of one another but the Trinity at work in all divine actions. Like Father, like Son, in their shared love of the Spirit. All for one and one for all!
A mystery? Yes of course it is. What matter of the divine is not? But, the implications for our lives are profound. As Jesus ascended he did not abandon his Apostles. His words, his risen form, the look of his face or the tone of his voice brought joy to these deeply changed men- from fear and trembling on the day of his horrible death by crucifixion to immeasurable elation as they beheld his risen presence in their midst to
“. . . great joy . . . continually in the temple praising God!” We’ve all had moments of happiness in our life but this must have been beyond words.
Yet, their Lord and intimate companion has left them. What are they happy about? Their joy, I suspect, has a great deal to do with the mission and ministry that Jesus entrusted to them. After all these men had been through they found firm conviction in the promise Jesus gave to them: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses . . .” (Acts 1).
So, it didn’t stop with the death of the last Apostle. It continues right on down to us. Though the Feast of the Ascension has a future flavor to it –Jesus promises his Spirit, we wait eternity with him, and he promised to return – it also has a here and now element. We don’t live in the past or the future. One is a memory and the other is a hope.
We only exist in the present moment – in this time and this place. In the meantime, we don’t “look at the sky;” we get on about the business of the mission and ministry of Jesus, each with our own unique giftedness and vocation. For some, it may be silent and simple; for others it may be loud and flashy. But it’s all his work.
As our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI reminded us this week as he left Portugal and Fatima in particular after a very fruitful pilgrimage:
“You need to become witnesses with me to the resurrection of Jesus. In effect, if you do not become his witnesses in your daily lives, who will do so in your place? Christians are, in the Church and with the Church, missionaries of Christ sent into the world.” Pope Benedict XVI in Portugal, May, 2010.
God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord - Alleluia!
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