Ascension of the Lord Homily Year A

Ascension of the Lord Homily Year A YEAR A

Jesus becomes Lord of creation

INTRODUCTION AND common

Today, the feast of Christ’s ascension, we celebrate the crowning of his Easter victory over sin and death. It is a joyous day, a day to look upwards at where Christ, our Brother, sits in glory a the right hand of the Father.

Our destiny is to share in the glory of Christ. We often forget this and pursue goals that are not really worthy of our calling. [Pause]

Let us confess our sins to God, asking his help to rise above them. I confess to almighty God ….

READINGS FOR READINGS

First Reading (Acts 1:1-11). This describes the ascension of Jesus into heaven, and his promise to send the Holy Spirit on his disciples.

Second Reading (Ephesians 1:17-23). Paul describes the meaning of the ascensiOn which is that God raised Christ above all earthly powers, and made him, not only head of the Church, but Lord of creation.

Gospel (Matthew 28:16-20). Jesus commissions the apostles to make disciples of all nations, and he promises to remain with them always.

1st Reading – ACTS 1:1-11

¹ In the first book I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach,

² Until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up.

³ To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God.

⁴ And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard me by my mouth.

⁵ For John indeed baptized with water, but you shall, in a few days, be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

⁶ When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”

⁷ He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or moments, which the Father has put in his own power.

⁸ But you shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the world.”

⁹ And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight.

¹⁰ And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments.

¹¹ Who also said: You men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as you have seen him going into heaven.

Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

² All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
³ For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

⁶ God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
⁷ Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

⁸ For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
⁹ God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

2nd Reading – Ephesians 1:17-23

Brothers and sisters:
¹⁷ May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give unto you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation, in the knowledge of him:

¹⁸ The eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what the hope is of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.

¹⁹ And what is the exceeding greatness of his power towards us, who believe according to the operation of the might of his power,

²⁰ Which he worked in Christ, raising him up from the dead, and setting him on his right hand in the heavenly places.

HOMILY

I think it is important to stress that Jesus has not left us and gone to live on some other planet or whatever. The ascension is not really about Jesus going away but about Jesus becoming the Lord.

Even though he was the manager of the local branch of the company, no one ever called him anything but Joe. Though he was the boss, he never put on airs. He was always around, not however in a spying capacity, but as a friend – to give advice, to sort out a problem, or simply to give a hand if needed. He had an office where you could arrange to meet him if you so wished, but he didn’t spend much time in it. He was accessible practically in any place and at any time. He drank his cup of tea wherever he happened to be at the break.

He knew all his workers by their first names. He even knew about their families. If a child was sick, or a man’s wife, he got to know about it, and would quietly arrange for a man to get off work early. He wasn’t afraid to be seen to go for a drink with the workers. His house was right in the middle of the scheme, and his kids played with theirs. Of course, from time to time, there were a few who took advantage of him. But for the most part he was not only respected by his workers, but loved by them.

The branch did well. The company bosses took notice, and Joe was promoted to regional manager. Now he was in charge of several factories and thousands of workers. But his whole relationship with the workers changed. He moved away from the area and lived ‘somewhere in the city’. The Joe who had been so close to his workers now spent most of his time in an office high up on a skyscraper. His tea was brought in to him, and he sipped it while dictating letters to his secretary.

The workers rarely saw him, much less got the chance to talk to him. Most of his talking was done over the phone. He travelled around a lot, but mostly only to attend meetings, and always in a company car. Figures on a page, not people, took up most of his time now. During his brief visits to a factory he would meet hundreds of workers without knowing a single one of them by name. And to them he was not Joe, their boss and fellow worker, but ‘some big shot from head office’ who had come to check up on them.

The workers who had known Joe didn’t like this one bit. Nor indeed did Joe himself. But he had accepted the job and now was trapped by the system. In time he would probably get used to it.

We may be inclined to see the ascension of Jesus in this light. The familiar Jesus who ate and drank with his disciples and with sinners has left us and gone back to heaven. During the years of his public ministry he was so accessible. The apostles experienced his love and care every day. And though in many ways he was utterly superior to them, in other ways he was just like one of themselves. But the ascension ended all this. Jesus is away up there in heaven, far from the world we know.

There is of course some truth in this. There is an element of leave-taking in today’s liturgy. Jesus is no longer physically present to his disciples. But he is present. The Gospel of the Mass ends with Jesus’ promise to remain with his disciples right to the very end of time.

The ascension must be seen, not so much in terms of Jesus leaving as of Jesus becoming the Lord. Just as a victorious racing driver is crowned with a laurel wreath, so Jesus was crowned with glory by his heavenly Father after his victory over evil, sin, and death. The Father has glorified his Son, making him Lord of all creation. This is the essential meaning of the ascension.

Jesus then hasn’t left us. He has simply taken on a new role, assumed a new position. He who made himself our Brother, has now become our Lord and Advocate with the Father. Unlike Joe, who as a result of his promotion was almost completely cut off from his old work-mates, for those who have faith, Jesus is closer to them than ever and in a better position to help them.

The first Christians understood this very well. They knew that Jesus was still with them, even if not in the same way as before. They believed he still shared their lives, and that death would mean being united with him in glory for ever. In the meantime he was relying on them (and now on us) to make his presence felt in the world, and to make sure that the Gospel was preached.

‘Victory that is gained after a whole life of work and effort is better than one gained sooner’. (Van Gogh)

‘One Man (Christ) was true to what is in you and in me”. (Emerson)

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

With joy in our hearts at the victory of Christ, our Leader and Friend, let us pray to him who now sits at the right hand of the Father in glory. R. Lord, intercede for us with the Father.

For the followers of Christ: that amid all the attractions of this world they may keep their hearts fixed on the things of heaven where Christ reigns in glory. [Pause] We pray to the Lord.

For the leaders of our country that they may realise that in Christ they have an unfailing guide and friend. [Pause] We pray to the Lord.

For all those who are striving to live Christian lives: that they may be strengthened by the Holy Spirit. [Pause] We pray to the Lord.

That by the power of his ascension Christ may deliver us from all evil, and help us to live our faith joyfully and generously. [Pause]

We pray to the Lord.

For local needs.

Let us pray:

Through your ascension, Lord, you have preceded us in glory. Grant that by sharing your sufferings on earth, we may one day share your glory in heaven where you live and reign forever and ever.

COMMUNION REFLECTION

‘Go, preach the Gospel to all nations.’

This was the farewell command of Christ.

He has no body now on earth but ours.

He has no hands but ours

to raise up the fallen.

He has no feet but Ours

to seek out the lost.

He has no eyes but ours

to see the silent tears of the suffering.

He has no cars but ours

to listen to the lonely.

He has no tongue but ours

to speak a word of comfort to the sad.

He has no heart but ours to love the unloved.

Christ often picks the little unknown people

to do his greatest work.