A homily for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, May 16, 2021
Acts 1:1-11, Eph 1:17-23, Mk 16:15-20
… as they were looking on, [Jesus] was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
Gone.
The Apostles couldn’t see their teacher and friend anymore. The man they had followed from town to town, the Messiah who had risen from the dead and broken bread with them just like the old days, was nowhere to be found.
Where did he go?
To hear Mark tell it:
… then the Lord Jesus … was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God.
Up there. In Heaven, ruling The Kingdom.
But is that the end of the story? Is that the whole story?
Not really.
Because, as we learned as children, and as we teach our children, God is everywhere.
Because, as Jesus promised every one of his followers until the end of time, wherever two or more are gathered in his name, there he is with them.
Because, as Jesus told in his story about the people being judged on the last day, whenever they cared for the least among them, they were caring for him.
So maybe the Apostles just didn’t know where to look.
Do we?
Maybe they looked but didn’t see. Didn’t understand what they were seeing.
Do we?
Are we like those followers who saw Jesus ascend and thought he was on a distant heavenly throne? Too far from the Earth to be directly involved with humanity any more?
Or are we like the disciples who, as Mark adds in today’s Gospel,
went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them
Because the Lord does still work with us.
Just as every baby bird learns to fly, just as every cub leaves the den, just as every child (eventually) moves out, so too we disciples must take what we’ve learned and strike out on our own, in Christ’s name.
The process is straightforward.
First, we reflect on the words of Jesus, which we have in the Gospels. We especially should reflect on his teachings about charity and justice, and determine if they are being applied liberally in our nation where we say all people are created equal and are endowed by their creator with rights and privileges.
Next, we pray for the Holy Spirit to strengthen us and guide us and show us how to listen so we can hear the requests of our brothers and sisters in need. The Spirit will help us inventory our gifts and skills and talents and — very quietly and gently — show us how to use them, and for whom.
For whom.
Recognizing those in need is often a bigger challenge than it seems. The life-changing pandemic of the last 14 months revealed that family, friends and strangers have a far greater range of needs than we ever imagined, and the solutions aren’t always obvious.
That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look for people we can help, in the name of Christ. Totally the opposite. We can and must seek out people who are shouldering a burden and help them lighten it.
Very often, we can lighten their load simply by spending time with them. And as the pandemic-driven restrictions begin to lighten, we can do this more and more. Thank God for that.
So today, as we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord to his heavenly throne, we do not have to wonder, “Where did he go?” We don’t have to wonder, “Where is Jesus?”
He, with our Creator and their Holy Spirit, is alongside us 24/7.
He is in the face of everyone we meet.
And he is deep within us every time we are Christ to one another.
On a separate note…
I’d like to thank God and thank the parish family of St. Anselm for the love and support you’ve given me since my ordination on May 14, 2011. The last 10 years have flown by, and I look forward to having the privilege of serving you for many, many more years to come.
God bless you, and may God bless us all. Thank you again.
