SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD
GOD MOUNTS HIS THRONE AMID SHOUTS OF JOY
By our Pastor, Fr. Carmelo Jimenez
We are before a great solemnity but also a mystery. If this event of ascending into heaven happened in our times, without a doubt people would start asking, “How did he do it?” Many, without doubt would be doubtful of the event, and like Saint Thomas the Apostle they would not believe without seeing!
This account in Saint Luke is the most detailed and complete description of the event of the Ascension because he situates it in time and space, using images given to him by Scripture: clouds, angels, etc. That is to say he uses an abundance of details despite the short length of this bible passage.
“He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3) The forty days meant an adequate time to bring the apostles to be completely convinced that he was alive. The number 40 represents a complete maturity. The Jewish language used this biblical text by Saint Luke to show that the apostles had received and achieved a sufficient maturity to be authorized witnesses of Jesus. A special time to acquire full certainty that Jesus was alive and give testimony to his identity between the crucified and the risen Jesus.
“While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for ‘the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak’…When they had gathered together they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’” (Acts 1:4.6) Jesus had died and had risen, and the apostles had still not forgotten the ancient messianic beliefs that they still carried in their hearts. Jesus’ answer is that they need the Spirit who will guide them to the complete truth and interpret for them what is yet to come, remembering the gospel reading from last Sunday: “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” (Jn 14:26)
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Christ on the cross and through his resurrection has broken all borders, making the two peoples: the Jews and the gentiles, one new people. And he gave the apostles a universal mission to evangelize. But this mission will be a slow conquest, in which the Spirit on the one hand and historic circumstances on the other hand, will mature the minds and actions of the Apostles. The same book of Acts of the Apostles gives testimony to all of that.
The Gospel for today also comes from Saint Luke, which coincides with the first reading. “Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.” (Lk 24:50-51) The feast of the Ascension is an opportunity that is offered to the believer to rejoice in their King: Israel rejoices for their Creator, the children of Zion for their King (psalm). But also to contemplate this mystery as the great impulse of his evangelizing mission in the world, so full of violence, destruction and death. That is why this world needs to hear the Good News of the Gospel, because it is the only thing that can give an answer to its questions. With the Ascension of the Lord to heaven Jesus is glorified while still remaining in our midst until the end of the world.