For the 40 days between the time of Christ’s resurrection and his ascension into heaven, our Lord appeared to the disciples at different times and spoke to them at length about God’s kingdom. He also told them a very curious thing: to remain in Jerusalem, to not depart that city, to await the promise of the Father. This is the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit. Even though the disciples had faith and hope in that promise, they were also feeling uncertainty and trepidations as well. They knew that Jesus was going to ascend to the Father, that the Spirit would be sent to them, but what did this exactly mean? This was a new reality that defied our normal human existence here on earth. What exactly was going to happen? When we are in an in-between space, we are leaving our old comfort zone, reaching out into the unknown, into new possibilities. Living with our questions and our anxieties, living with ambiguity, having to trust and wait, it is difficult being in a state of unknowing. It seems like the one thing that each one of us brings to confession, to the sacrament of reconciliation, is the impatience that brings out feelings of anger and frustration in our daily lives. In our modern world, we don’t know how to wait any more. We don’t know how to be patient. We live in a world where we are connected to just about everything through our smart phones, laptops, and ipads. We’re on the fast-track. We demand instant gratification. If our wifi goes out, it feels like the world is coming to an end, doesn’t it? Even though the disciples were not sure about the reality of the risen Christ, even though they were not sure what would happen after Christ’s ascension, the disciples remained together in spite of their anxiety and uncertainty. The disciples’ experiences of God’s faithfulness to their Lord Jesus Christ gave them hope and perseverance. What would have happened if the disciples had run away in fear, frustration, and impatience? What if they had refused to wait in Jerusalem, waiting patiently for the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Thankfully, they persevered, making sure the Early Church would develop and grow, led by the Spirit.
St. Paul, in the letter to the Ephesians, summarizes the theological meaning that Christ’ ascension into heaven means for us as his modern disciples here on earth: “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call.” Our hope is that one day we will ascend to the heavenly glory of eternal life that our faith promises us, by the help of God’s grace. On our journey here on earth, we’re to follow the great commission that Christ gives in the concluding words of Matthew’s Gospel. The mission that the ascended Christ leaves us is to preach the Good News of salvation in our words and our deeds.
Every Sunday, in the Apostles Creed, we professed that Christ “ascended into heaven.” Indeed, Christ’s ascension was the culmination of God’s plan for him, as he returned to his Father after accomplishing his mission here on earth. It’s the culmination, not the conclusion. From his place with the Father in glory, Jesus is always with us in spirit.
In the description of the Ascension in Acts, the disciples are so captivated by the sight of Jesus ascending in the heavens that they don’t notice the two strangers that suddenly appear to them. These two men turn out to be angels who speak some comforting yet challenging words to the disciples. The angels ask them: Why are you standing here gazing into the sky? Don’t you have more pressing things to do? Don’t you need to be going about the business of the Lord, in proclaiming God’s kingdom? The angels announce that Christ’s disciples should take heart that while they are serving God and working toward the establishment of God’s kingdom, that they can have confidence that Christ will indeed return. How are we fulfilling that mission in our work here on earth? Are we gazing up at the sky, waiting for something to happen? Or are we confidently living out the Gospel in our lives, in serving God and serving our neighbor? Yes, there is still uncertainty and apprehensiveness and ambiguity in our modern world, but we definitely have work to do.
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