The Ascension of the Lord (Solemnity)
By Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.
Matthew 28: 16 – 20 | |
16 | Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. |
17 | And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. |
18 | And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. |
19 | 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, |
20 | teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." |
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:
A BLESSED ASCENSION SUNDAY TO ALL!!!
Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord. This solemnity or feast is celebrated on the 40th day after Jesus’ Resurrection, thus falling on the 2nd day of June this year. However, the Church celebrates this feast on the Sunday after the actual 40th day. This celebration commemorates the fulfillment in full glory of Jesus’ exhortation, or prediction, that he will be going back to his Father, and there he will be preparing rooms for us in his Father’s house. In his Father’s house we will also have our share in the glory of his resurrection. Thus, to highlight the significance of this “event” there are those who consider this ascension of our Lord as the completion of his work for our redemption.
In the Gospel today it would appear that Jesus is making his farewell address to his disciples before he will ascend to heaven. It is a powerful address that changes the whole life’s direction of the disciples as he speaks of the grand WORK his disciples’ must take charge after leaving them. Yet, though he will leave them, he makes a clear assurance that he will be WITH THEM ALWAYS. Jesus said categorically, “I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
Let us then never DOUBT of the Lord’s presence, as there were those who doubted while others worshipped him. By our faith in him, there should never be any moment that we should feel alone. By our faith, we always feel the presence of our faithful COMPANION—the LORD!
Our Catholic catechism (refer to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 665-667) provides us with a threefold component of the significance, especially theologically speaking, of the Ascension of our Lord:
First, “Christ's Ascension marks the definitive entrance of Jesus' humanity into God's heavenly domain, whence he will come again (cf. Acts 1:11); this humanity in the meantime hides him from the eyes of men (cf. Col 3:3) (665).”
Second, “Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, precedes us into the Father's glorious kingdom so that we, the members of his Body, may live in the hope of one day being with him forever (666).”
Third, “Jesus Christ, having entered the sanctuary of heaven once and for all, intercedes constantly for us as the mediator who assures us of the permanent outpouring of the Holy Spirit (667).”
All these would show to us the full import why God has to become human in Jesus so that in his humanity he brings us all into the full glory of his resurrection (NEW LIFE) and become heir of the glory of heaven. Moreover, by his humanity he is our one and only MEDIATOR in heaven, yet is always with us by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in us. Jesus is indeed our WAY to the Father.
As we continue to await our final union with him in his heavenly Kingdom, the Lord mandated us to be always on the GO in making others his DISCIPLES, teaching them to OBSERVE the COMMANDMENTS of God so that the WILL of God will truly be DONE here on earth. This is our Christian mandate. This is our Christian MISSION that shapes the direction of our lives. We are called to be ambassadors of Christ to make the WORLD consecrated to the FATHER in the SON by the HOLY SPIRIT. In this work, we are NOT ALONE! The Lord is with us.
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