7th Sunday of Easter, the Feast of Ascension! The editor of a small weekly newspaper, annoyed at legislation that had
recently been passed, ran a scathing editorial under the headline: HALF OF OUR LEGISLATORS ARE CROOKS. Many prominent local politicians were outraged, and tremendous pressure was exerted on him to retract the statement.
He finally succumbed to the pressure and ran an apology with the headline:
HALF OF OUR LEGISLATORS ARE NOT CROOKS ! It could be a joke with a poke. It speaks about the character and nature of a politician who can be either bad or good. Both the statements are right and communicate the message. They discover themselves! Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. I raise two questions. What significance does the ascension of Jesus hold for us Christians? What can it mean for us today? I think the salvation, power to be witnesses, discovering our real selves; these are the themes that emerge from today’s readings. The first reading speaks about the work of the spirit and power of the spirit that enabled people to experience the risen lord and spread the message of peace. The second reading is the jubilant hymn of praise which begins as a praise as a greeting and continues as a prayer for wisdom and understanding. The gospel speaks the mission and purpose of his life namely suffering which led to resurrection and the proclamation of the good news for the forgiveness of sin. So here are three points that makes sense to me about the ascension.
a) First, the ascension of Jesus reveals our destiny. The ascension of Jesus is important because it completes the redemption story. Jesus not only came from God but also returned back to God. If human life is to be modeled around the life of Jesus, then ascension becomes the final link in the chain of redemption. For us, that means that we now know not only where we come from but also where we are going. The implication from this is that we know our destiny. That leaves us with the time between our coming and our going. In this context, our life on earth assumes so much significance. The choices we make assume so much significance. Our model for making those choices is Jesus. That is the ideal Jesus set for us. To strive to get the closest we can to these ideals is to prepare ourselves for our destiny – our life with God.
b) Second, ascension gives us hope. Let me read for you the prayer that St. Paul makes for the Ephesians in today’s second reading. “May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him? May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened that you may know what the hope that belongs to his call…is.” St. Paul is asking for two things for the Ephesians: the knowledge of God and the hope of his call. I was talking to a patient yesterday. He has been a little spiritually a discouraged lately because he has been praying for his speedy recovery and there seems to be no progress. His wife immediately took exception and said, “Never give up hope. There is nothing God can’t do even till the last moment.” I am a priest for 17 years perhaps I have not got such tremendous hope. I know it is her intimacy with God – her “knowledge of God.” She has the wisdom that comes from her knowledge of God. The eyes of her heart are open. This is Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians and for all of us. The ascension of Jesus and his being at the right hand of God is what gives us that hope.
c) Third, ascension gives us a new dignity. The scene at the end of today’s gospel reading is rather amusing. Jesus has slowly disappeared into the sky. The disciples are standing there… gaping. The angels come and tell them, “Why are you standing there looking at the sky? They are not meant to be gaping stupid people any more. Thus far the disciples were learners –weak, groping, learners. That changed with the ascension. Jesus gave them a new dignity and purpose, “You are witnesses to these things,” he said to them. Now they must be to others what he was to them. Through baptism they would bring God to the masses. They have become partners in the redeeming work of Christ. Human beings have a new dignity. We are earthen vessels, carrying in our bodies the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection.
The gospel reading ends with the words, “They did him homage.” That is exactly where ascension should lead us… to worship. At this Eucharist, let us not stand gaping. Rather, let us move into the most profound and true worship human beings can offer God. Through this Eucharist let us “do him homage.”