Today, the Church joyfully celebrates the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven. The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles recounts this sacred moment in the life of Christ and the early Church. After His suffering, death, and resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples over a period of forty days, strengthening their faith and preparing them for the mission ahead. Then, on the fortieth day, He ascended into heaven before their eyes.
The Ascension is not simply the story of Jesus leaving the earth; it is a mystery filled with hope, promise, and mission. Two important lessons stand out for us today.
First, the Ascension of Jesus was not an act of abandonment, but of a unique divine presence. Before returning to the Father, Jesus assured His disciples that they would not be left alone. He promised them another Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who would guide, strengthen, and remain with them forever. Jesus had already told them, “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go, the Advocate will not come to you.” In other words, His departure would open the way for a greater spiritual presence among them.
At first, however, the apostles struggled to understand this. They felt afraid, uncertain, and vulnerable. After the Ascension, they remained behind closed doors, intimidated by fear and discouraged by the challenges before them. Many Christians today experience similar feelings. There are moments in life when God seems distant—when prayers appear unanswered, when suffering becomes overwhelming, and when it feels as though the heavens are silent. In such moments, some begin to think that God has abandoned them.
But the Ascension reminds us that God never abandons His people. Even when we cannot feel His presence, He remains close to us. He knows every pain, every fear, every silent tear, and every burden we carry in our hearts. The Lord who ascended into heaven is still actively present in our lives through the Holy Spirit. His physical absence became a spiritual closeness that reaches every believer, everywhere, at all times.
Sometimes, God may seem silent, but silence is not absence. Even when doors appear closed, and hope seems far away, God continues to work in ways we cannot yet see. The awareness of His constant presence gives us strength to persevere through trials and to continue walking in faith.
Secondly, the Ascension marks the beginning of the Church’s mission in the world. Before ascending, Jesus entrusted His disciples with what we now call the Great Commission. In the Gospel, He declares:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”
These words were not addressed only to the apostles; they are addressed to every Christian. Each of us, by virtue of our baptism, shares in the mission of proclaiming the Gospel. We may not all preach from the pulpit or travel to distant lands as missionaries, but every Christian has a role to play in building the Kingdom of God.
Saint Paul reminds us in Ephesians that the Church is one body with many members, each blessed with different gifts and responsibilities. Some are called to preach, some to teach, some to serve, some to encourage, and some simply to witness to Christ through acts of kindness, honesty, patience, and love. From the priest at the altar, to the parent teaching children to pray, to the young person helping at home with sincerity and love—each person participates in the mission of Christ uniquely.
The Gospel is proclaimed not only through words, but also through the witness of our lives. In a world filled with hatred, division, dishonesty, and despair, Christians are called to become signs of hope, peace, compassion, and truth.
As we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord today, let us reflect deeply on two important questions:
Do I sometimes feel abandoned by God, forgetting that He is always near to me through His Spirit?
And how am I participating in the mission of Christ to spread the Gospel in my family, workplace, school, and community?
May the celebration of the Ascension renew our faith in God’s abiding presence and inspire us to become courageous witnesses of Christ in the world. And may the Holy Spirit strengthen us, just as He strengthened the apostles, to live faithfully and boldly as disciples of the risen Lord. Amen.