The Ascension of Christ our Lord

THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST JESUS 

Good morning everyone, I am happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. 

Once two guys were talking to each other. The first guy said, “I have to give a farewell speech and I don’t know how to make a farewell speech”. The other guy said, “Don’t worry. I can write it for you and it’s only 20 bucks”. The guy said, “Wow...it’s really cheap”. The other guy said, “It’s only 20 bucks and it’s a good buy”. 

Today Christ our Lord says, “Goodbye” to His apostles. Today we celebrate the Ascension of Christ Our Lord to heaven.  

Jesus our Lord, after His glorious Ascension, for forty days stayed with His apostles appearing to them behind locked doors, giving them courage and hope, accompanying them on their journey, opening the Scripture to them and telling them why the Messiah had to undergo great suffering, die on the cross and then come to life and then showing to His disciples His hands and feet saying, ‘look at my feet and hands, do not doubt but believe’. 

There is a beautiful story about the Ascension. As Christ our lord went up to heaven, the angels and archangels welcomed Him with joy. Then angel Gabriel asked Christ, “Oh Messiah, as you are up in heaven now. Who is going to continue your mighty works?” Christ our Lord said, “My apostles whom I chose in a special way will continue my works”. The angel hesitated then and said, “you mean the apostles who denied you, who ran away from you and who disappeared as you were hanging on the cross?’ “Do you have any other plan?”  Christ looked at the angel Gabriel and all other angels and said, “I do not have any other plan. They are the only plan only them”. 

The one who descended from heaven and lived among us. The one who brought life and light to us all has ascended to heaven today. He went up to heaven, not to abandon us but to give us more life. 

His glorious Ascension tells us where the Messiah is now: He is with the Father sitting at His right hand, interceding for all our needs. Yes, Christ will never abandon us. He is with us always until the end of time. 

His glorious Ascension tells us Why Christ appeared to His disciples after His Resurrection:  He appeared to them to give courage and strength. He brought them back to the fold giving them peace and prepared them to go everywhere to preach the Good News. 

His glorious Ascension tells us that He will come again on the last day. Yes, Christ is coming back not to judge us but to take us with Him, so that where the Master is, there will we also be. Yes, where the head is, there we follow. 

The glorious Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that we who follow Him and we who believe in Him should proclaim the Good news to all. Yes, Christ is the only way and we are called to show the way to those who are wandering around. 

As we celebrate the glorious Ascension, let us celebrate our Ascension too. One day we too like our Master will ascend and be with Him forever. Amen.