The Ascension of the Lord MT 28,16-20, 2020

The disciples experienced joyful moments as well as uncertainty and doubt as the resurrected Jesus appeared to them. This is indicated by the introductory part of today’s Gospel: “When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted” (Mt 28:17). Their frightened glances seemed to ask, “Sir, what are we to do now? What did you call us to? Three years ago, when you addressed us, we immediately followed you; we brought brothers and friends. We faithfully walked with you; we listened to you, we helped you. We thought you would redeem Israel … Now we believe you have risen from the dead. Lord, will you now restore the kingdom of Israel? Tell us clearly what you called us to do? … “We experience something similar. We are also in a precarious situation. We live in his Church, we believe in his resurrection, we strive to keep the commandments, and yet there remains enough uncertainty in us. Lord, will you establish a kingdom for us believers? And what are we to do, what have you personally called each of us to in your Church? …

The Lord Jesus tells his disciples and us, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). We are called to the light of faith, which flows to us by receiving the sacrament of baptism. All our work and worries are preceded by a vocation to the Gospel. When we want to do something great for Jesus, we must first believe, not so much in words, but in life bear witness to Him, live as faith in Jesus preaches to us. We have a vocation, and a mission to believe in the Gospel and to live it in today’s world saturated with material prosperity and enjoyment of all kinds. To believe this is the first significant act we can do for Jesus Christ; it is not only a human act but also a divine act.

We are called to share the faith of our brothers and sisters, to proclaim the Gospel to all creation. The Lord Jesus sends the apostles and through us, “Go, teach all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:18). Jesus does not leave this world; through his disciples, he spreads the presence of his word and his saving power to the whole world. “Go and teach! We are called not to wait, but to go. Not only here or there, but everywhere one must go to preach the Gospel to all creation. And what about us? Where did we go? …. By our faith, we may not have crossed even the threshold of our house; perhaps we have not taken a step towards our loved ones, our spouse, children, friends. To whom have we already shown the Gospel? It does not take many words or eloquence; it is enough to speak the language of love and reverence, the language of a brave life according to the Gospel.

After fulfilling his mission, the Lord Jesus “ascended to heaven and sat at the right hand of God.” In the High Priest’s Prayer at the Last Supper, he prays, “I glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou hast did for me. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (John 17: 4-5). The last act in the work of salvation is to enter the glory of the Father – to heaven. We have the same mission: “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory” (John 17:24). We are called to glory. Our mission here on earth is to live in the hope of eternal glory, of eternal life with Jesus in glory. Brothers and sisters, we live with dignity the threefold vocation God has called us and which the Lord Jesus has given us before his ascension into heaven. We live in faith and in the hope of eternal glory, and let us proclaim the Gospel to all creation. Amen.