Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20

Feast of the Ascension

The Last Farewell! Not really! He is going but remaining! The mission is thrust upon the disciples. They are to wait. Then he is lifted up into a cloud. What a conundrum for the poor disciples whose limited vision and understanding is for a restoration of a political kingdom.

The cloud was often used as a sign in the Old Testament and in the New Testament when God had some deep message to reveal to those who followed, and in this case the followers of Jesus. They had been prepared for this. As he was lifted up the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to pray and caress the message. They became witnesses to who Jesus was. This mission you and I carry within us, and He said he would be with us always.

Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, reiterates what the call is for the Ephesians. We are redeemed and sealed and belong to Christ and to his mission.

In the Gospel we hear Jesus invite his disciples to meet him in Galilee. Except for a few “doubters”, they meet and they pray together. Jesus is very direct in his summary of what he wants of them in His mission. First of all, He declares his authority. The disciples are to make more disciple, Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, an Teach them (the new disciples) all that he has taught them. This completes their identification with Christ, – redeemed and sealed, they belong to his mission.

We are all together on a journey. It is a teaching mission journey. Jesus is present in his words, and by his presence among all creation he empowers the people of God – “I will be with you always”.

Dominique Horgan, OP