Ascension

The Ascension of the Lord to Heaven
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
Jesus leaves but he remains close to each person. He was leaving them but they remembered His words, "I will be with you always."
My dear brothers and sisters, do you ever felt that Jesus has left you? Abandoned you? Are there problems you feel you can't solve alone? Sure, 2000 years ago Jesus worked miracles for His followers but is He available to me, today? Yes, He is. You may have heard this story before…
One evening, a father who lived in suburb of New York, said to his 10 year old son, “I want you to join me at my office next week. We’ll take the subway and you can spend some time seeing how I spend my day. Then you’ll come home by yourself so you can get acquainted with traveling by subway.” The boy was a bit apprehensive about the prospect of coming home alone but his father assured him he would be fine.
On the morning they left, his father explained all the details of the trip to New York and gave him a written, detailed set of instructions for returning. After boarding the train, his father showed him the maps posted in the cars which identified all the stops. He explained that when they changed trains, the next train would be waiting for their arrival.
Everything went smoothly and they arrived in New York as planned. However, the young lad was still apprehensive as his father took him back to the station for the return trip home. He had the instructions, he had his father’s assurance he would do fine but he still worried.
As he waved goodbye to his father and boarded the train, he immediately went to the section where the maps were located. Sure enough, all the stops were outlined. He got off at the correct station and, just as his father had promised, the other train was waiting on the next ramp. He boarded and as he again studied the map he was relieved to see that his “home” station was just 6 stops away. Now, he felt more confident. When the train approached his station, he got up, stood in from of the exit door and when it opened he breathed a sigh of relief ... he had made it.
His mother was there to meet him and as he turned toward the rear of the train he saw her waving to him. He walked back toward her and suddenly, he saw his father leaving the car right behind his. His father had been with him all the time. There had never been any need to worry. His father took his arm and said, “Son, you know I will always be with you when you need me.” As he locked arms with his mother and father, a very confident, happy young man knew he was surrounded by those who loved him.
The parents here can relate very easily with the father of the young boy. Would you ever leave your child unprotected? If we feel that way, don’t you think Jesus is even more committed to our well being?
I think it’s very important for all of us to understand that no matter what the problem may be, no matter what the circumstances, Jesus has promised He will help us.
The Eleven are given a commission. With Jesus’ departure, it is their responsibility to continue the work that Jesus began. They, and we, are told to make disciples of all the nations, to baptize and to teach. This is an awesome task. In daily life, we proclaim the gospel by living our faith. In the power of his Spirit, we can do it. We are not alone. He is always with us. That mission was entrusted not only to priests and religious, but to everybody, to you. You are called by Jesus to preach the Good News where you live and work. Let us not be so busy that we forget about God.
A Jesuit priest, who was working in poor part of India, had no money to buy the cheapest tabernacle. So, he kept the Blessed Sacrament in an old orange container. Whenever he found himself going down for the third time, he would rush to the Blessed Sacrament. If he felt Jesus was not giving him His attention, he would knock loudly on the orange crate. He would say, "Master, wake up. Get moving. I need big help big time." He said eight times out of ten Jesus saved him. The other two times, he said, Christ told him to wait awhile.
We are so busy doing things; achieving, making progress that we can forget what life is all about, i.e., preparing to meet God in heaven. The Ascension of Jesus reminds us that we are ‘only passing through’ here, as we say. We are pilgrims on a journey. Just as Jesus’ earthly life was temporary, came to an end, and he ascended to sit at the right hand of the Father, so also our lives here are temporary, will come to an end and we will meet God in the next life. The Ascension of Jesus reminds us in all of our busyness not to forget what life is all about.
One of the lines in that prayer in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, our second reading today (Years A & C), is so beautiful and relevant. It is a most beautiful prayer and description of living life preparing for eternal life.
May God our Father...enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. (Eph 1:18-19)
All partings are difficult. It is never easy to say, “Goodbye.” The time also came for Jesus risen from the dead to return to heaven from earth.
There is a heaven and we need to get there. There is a hell, and we need to do everything that we can to avoid the possibility of loosing our immortal soul. Our number one priority is to get to heaven. What are you willing to do to get there?
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.