May 21, 2009 Ascension of the Lord Acts 1:1-11; Eph. 1:17-23; Mk. 16:15-20 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Readings: http://www.usccb.org/nab/052109a.shtml                ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________     The feast of the Ascension celebrates one aspect of the resurrection, namely Jesus’ exaltation. He did not wait 40 days to be glorified at God’s right hand. That already happened at his resurrection. We cannot even begin to grasp the scope of this mystery. Therefore, throughout the Easter season we focus our attention first on one aspect of the mystery and then on another. On Easter we concentrate on Jesus’ victory over sin and death; today we contemplate his enthronement. On Pentecost we will reflect on the gift of the Spirit.   The flow of today’s readings carries us through the message to this feast. First we stand with the disciples gazing up at the sky, not knowing what has happened or what it might mean for us. In the second reading Paul explains the theological meaning of Jesus’ exaltation. Then in the Gospel reading we ponder the commission given first to the disciples and then to us: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel.”   The two men in white garments who were present at Jesus’ ascension hint at this commission. Why do you stand there looking at the sky? You have work to do. You have a commission to fulfill. From now on, you are the body of Christ; you must proclaim the good news; you must drive out the demons that hold people in their addicting clutches; you must embrace all people with the merciful love of God. You yourselves now stand as an answer to the question, just where did Jesus go?   The disciples were, a fragile little community, anxious and bewildered, watching their Lord leave them, but they are not sad. When it's all over, they're worshipping with joy. They had an advantage over us. They knew they had no power of their own. Any power they would ever know would be given to them by the Spirit, and they aren't even told when or how.   Ascension Day is the day to remember that it's the Spirit at work in the church that makes all manner of impossible things possible--things a good deal more mystifying than Jesus rising into the air.   "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mk. 16:15-16)     <<   Previous: Sixth Sunday of Easter  | Next: Seventh Sunday of Easter >>     Go Back to SERMONS (Year B)