Christ the Cornerstone

Jesus ascends to heaven, but stays close to us

Thursday, May 14, is the traditional date for our observance of the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, but like most dioceses in the United States, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis will observe this important feast day on Sunday, May 17, in order to allow more of our parishioners to participate in this particular celebration of Easter joy.

The Ascension is a joyful feast because it assures us that Christ remains close to us even while he ascends to heaven and sits at his Father’s right hand.

The story of the Lord’s ascension begins the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:1-11), and it rightly serves as the catalyst, for everything that follows, including the sending of the Holy Spirit and the disciples’ acceptance of the commission received from Jesus “to be [his] witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth” (Acts 1:8).

Jesus returned to heaven so that we who remain here on Earth can be faithful, Spirit-filled missionary disciples. His perceived absence motivates us to come closer to him and be his witnesses to our sisters and brothers everywhere.

The paradox of the Lord’s ascension is seen in the Gospel reading (Mt 28:16-20):

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power 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 behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28:16-20)

The Apostles went to Galilee as they had been instructed. When they saw the Risen Jesus, they didn’t recognize him at first and they were skeptical. The Lord reassured them by his Divine Presence, but he also refused to allow them to cling to him. They had to let go of their dependence on him so that they could be empowered by the Holy Spirit to “observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:20).

The Apostles had to surrender their own power in order to accept a Higher Power—the gifts of the Holy Spirit that enabled them to be bold and courageous evangelists who did not hesitate to suffer and die for the sake of Jesus’ holy name.

Jesus lets the disciples go. He commissions them to carry out his work in the world, but he does not leave them orphans. As St. Matthew tells us, he assures them (and all of us), “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt 28:20).

This is the paradox of the Ascension: The Lord’s departure from earthly life allows him to be even closer to us. It makes possible the sending of the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with the fire of God’s love and who allows us to say and do things that otherwise would not be possible.

In the second reading for the Ascension (Eph 1:17-23), St. Paul stresses “the surpassing greatness of [the Lord’s] power for us who believe” (Eph 1:19). Just as the disciples had to let go of their dependence on their own power in order to allow the Holy Spirit to fill them with a greater power, we who serve as missionary disciples of Jesus Christ are called to believe that in him we have everything we need to carry out our mission. As St. Paul says, 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. (Eph 1:18-23)

As we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord this weekend, let’s remember that Jesus remains close to us—especially in the Holy Eucharist—and that through the Holy Spirit he has given us everything we need to be his faithful witnesses “to the ends of the Earth.” †