May 12, 2002

Father Owen's Homilies

Homily for the Solemnity of the Ascension, celebrated Sunday, May 12, 2002.

Not all Catholics are happy about the Solemnity of the Ascension being transferred from Thursday to Sunday. I, for one, am delighted with the idea because it gives the people who might not be at Mass on Thursday the benefit of celebrating with the parish community and hearing the living word of the Scripture on the following Sunday.

The first and the third readings frame the Scriptures the Church sends us today. The first reading is from the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, 1,1-11. The Gospel selection is from the conclusion of St. Matthew’s gospel. In Acts an angel comes to the Apostles as they stand looking up to heaven, The Messenger of the Lord asks them, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking up to the sky? Jesus will return in the same way you have seen him leave!” The angel seems to imply that the apostles ought to move from the grand spiritual experience on the mountain. They need to go down to the plains, await the coming of the promised spirit, and live out the message of Jesus.

In the Selection from the Gospel of Matthew the group is seen on the mountain, as they were on the Mount of the Beatitudes, as they were on the Mount of Transfiguration. In this account of the Ascension the group is given clear directions as to what they are to do. They are to go and make disciples of all nations. They are sent on a mission to live the teachings of Jesus and bring others into the kingdom of Jesus. It will be the Spirit of Jesus that will give them the courage. All their doubts are over now. They have opened not only the ears but also the eyes of their hearts.

We, too, have hope that the Lord is not only with us but that the Lord will come again. We cannot stand on the mountaintop of religious experience. We too have to come down to the earth we know so well and embrace it with the love the Spirit of God will give us.