The Ascension of the Lord

In Acts 1, as Jesus is about to ascend to heaven, he speaks to the disciples about “the promise of the Father.”  At the end of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus in his last words to the disciples tells them, “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

These two promises made to the Church and to each individual Christian are comforting words.  Jesus will never leave us and he remains with us through the presence of the Holy Spirit, who is the promise of the Father.

These promises are a source of power for us.  Knowing that the Lord is with us empowers us and emboldens us so that we can overcome fear that we are alone or have been abandoned or forgotten.  Even more importantly, the Holy Spirit through the many gifts and fruits given to us, empowers us with the same power that Jesus had as he fulfilled his mission from the Father.  Paul tells the Ephesians in the second reading that the power is of “surpassing greatness.”  The Holy Spirit’s power is all we need.

And in the gospel, Jesus tells the disciples to go forth and preach the gospel and bring people of all nations together through baptism and in name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  We are sent to preach the gospel with our lives, drawing people to Jesus through example.  As Pope Francis reminds us when we as Christians are merciful and joyful, people will be drawn to Jesus.

As we prepare for the great feast of Pentecost, we thank the Lord for his promises to us.  We strive to open ourselves more fully to the power that is ours through the Holy Spirit.  We pledge again to preach God’s good news through all we say and do.  We do all this in obedience to Jesus who has ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us.