Luke 24: 46-53
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052922-ascension.cfm
Whether it be a stage play, a movie, a competitive sports
team, a corporation, a Church, or any human organization, you need a good
director, manager, Pastor, Bishop, or Pope to be sure that he/she oversees the
action and keeps all going smoothly as possible. That "director" should have a
vision of the bigger picture and the overall purpose that is trying to be
accomplished. As we well know from
history, such a position can serve to achieve the highest and most inspiring of
goals or contribute to the nefarious desires of that particular director.
On this significant Feast of the Ascension of the Lord we
may feel tempted to see this moment between the resurrection of Jesus and the
coming of the Spirit at Pentecost as a sort of side bar or footnote event. Jesus ascended to heaven and shortly after the
Spirit as promised was sent to the Apostles with the dramatic power of wind,
fire and foreign tongues.
Yet, this moment of the Ascension ties directly to Jesus
position now in heaven as the grand director of his Church. In the power of the Spirit he oversees the
"action" and in the Spirit assures us of his constant presence and preservation
of the Body of Christ until the end of time.
St. Luke, the author of both the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles (primarily
the Apostles Peter and Paul) view the Ascension as a pivotal event as the infant
Church, under the witness of the Apostles, is sent out.
So, as Bishop Robert Barron points out, it was good that
he return so that he can now oversee his Church as it travels through the time
and space of human history. Still,
unlike a somewhat distanced director simply giving orders from a distant
vantage point, Jesus is very present, not a distant or uncaring memory who has
done his part and left the rest to us, as fragile and weak as we can be. He
holds the position at the "right hand of his Father" as one of
supreme authority and watches over all while he enters the action and remains
center stage. He not only watches but through the Spirit guides and
participates in its action and yes in our lives.
Yet such a lofty theological understanding was not in the
minds of the Apostles. They may indeed
have felt on a human level more of a loss of connection with Christ. Not unlike
when a loved one dies it is never an easy moment. Whether we may be anticipating the loss or it
comes upon us suddenly, it's never easy to say "goodbye" to someone
who has been a part of our lives for many years. Four years ago my mother of 95 years,
although in relatively good health, with a clear mind, knew that day would
come. No one better than she knew it as
well and she was prepared as a woman of faith, to accept the inevitable. After so long a time with a person you strangely
assume they will always be there but you know that time must march on and the
inevitable moment comes to say goodbye- yet not a forever goodbye. “This Jesus will return in the same way . . .”
our Gospel reminds us.
As Jesus left the physical sight of his Apostles we can
only imagine some sadness they felt.
They knew he was not dead, would never die again, that his risen
presence had become so convincing and real that maybe he would now stay with
them and become the grand director on earth of a new plan for Israel, the
chosen people of God. His speak of going
away and yet returning might have taken various interpretations that settled on
the literal. Sure, he will come back
again but in the meantime, why does he have to go?
In the Gospel for the Ascension, Jesus speaks to his
Apostles before that moment: "Behold, I am sending the promise of my
Father upon you . . . until you are clothed with power from on high . .
." That promise of the Father is to
pour out the Holy Spirit, the Spirit which makes Christ present and active in
our lives and that of his Church, upon these men who will become the great
missionary pillars of the Church in the establishment of the Christian Gospel
in the world. This is why we state the
Church is: "One, Holy, Catholic, and APOSTOLIC.”
So, Jesus prepares all believers not to see him as far
away and distant but rather up close and intimately involved in the body of the
Church. Jesus remains in control,
overseeing and guiding and protecting the Church from destruction and
error. Through the power of the Holy
Spirit, given to us in Baptism and Confirmation, we share in that power
ourselves if we are open to his grace as we become his witnesses in a modern
world that has become so secular and indifferent to God.
So, in a true way, Jesus hasn't gone away and is not
"up there" in heaven as on vacation or a temporary sabbatical sending
us occasional updates on his progress.
He remains present and involved in a different and more universal way. The faith and missionary activity of the
Apostles, who were enflamed with the power of the Spirit is forever the reason
why we exist, why we believe, why we gather each Sunday for Eucharist. The Ascension of Jesus has made all this
possible. Let us live lives worthy of
such great a divine gift to humanity and carry on with his mission as he
directs us in the power of his Spirit.
Gladden us with holy joys, almighty God,
and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving,
for the Ascension of Christ your Son
is our exaltation,
and, where the Head has gone before in glory,
the Body is called to follow in hope.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
God for ever and ever.
(Opening Prayer of Mass)
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