Ascension of Our Lord (A)

                                           Ascension of Our Lord (A) [Mt 28:16-20]

21.05.2023

The Commissioning of the Disciples

Readings: (1) Acts 1:1-11 (2) Eph 1:17-23

1, Theme in brief:

Submission to Christ’s authority and trust in his presence

2. Focus Statement:

The feast of Ascension invites us to submit ourselves to the total authority given to Christ by the Father; experience his permanent presence in all situations of life and in the Word and sacraments; and to put all people into contact with his values.

3. Explanation of the text

According to today’s gospel text, the Risen Lord had had directed the Eleven disciples to go to a mountain in Galilee where he would meet them (28:10, 16). Matthew says that he had inaugurated his public ministry in “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Mt 4:15), and now he wants to conclude it in the same region with the Great Commission given in today’ gospel. Galilee was a region with a mixed population of Jews and Gentiles. It was despised by the respectable Jews in Judea as dull and backward. For them it was a land in darkness (Mt 4:16). The very fact that Jesus began and concluded his public ministry in this backward (“dark”) region points to the universality of his mission (both for Jews and Gentiles) and his preferential option for the marginalized.

Today’s text that records Jesus' parting words to his disciples in Matthew’s gospel, is commonly referred to as the Great Commission. For the first Christians, these words provided the basis for the great missionary movement for the cause of Christ and the foundation of the believers’ community that later on became the Church. This mission command given by Jesus mentions the words “all” four times: (1) “all authority” given to him by the Father; (2) his command to make disciples of “all nations” that includes all humanity; (3) teaching them to observe or practice “all that he has commanded,” especially to put into action his commandment of love; and (4) his assurance to remain with them “always” or at all times (28:18-20). All authority in heaven and on earth given to him by the Father indicates his universal and cosmic authority over the whole of creation. Because of his universal authority, he can command a universal mission to "all nations." Besides the universality of his mission, the word “all” (repeated four times) also implies a total transformation of God’s creation and all of human activities with the teachings of Christ, and an assurance of his accompaniment throughout our life.

Jesus follows his declaration of universal authority with a threefold commission (or missionary charge):  (1) to ‘make disciples’ of ‘all nations’ (including the Gentiles); (2) to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; and (3) to teach others all that he had been communicating to them (28:19-20). The command to baptize people is not given in the name of Jesus alone, but in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus instructs them to observe all that he has commanded them (28:20) – a clear reference to his commandment of love by which they are to build up a community of loving relationships and teach its members to love one another as he loved his disciples.

Finally, Jesus makes a profound promise or assurance of his continuing, abiding presence with his disciples with the words: “I am with you always to the end of the age” (28:20). At the beginning of his gospel, Matthew identifies Jesus as ‘Emmanuel’ prophesized by Isaiah, which means “God is with us” (1:23). As he ascends to heaven, Jesus, who is born as God-with-us, promises to remain as God with his disciples always, to the end of the age (28:20). Thus, Matthew’s gospel begins with the assurance of God to remain with us through incarnation,  and ends with the same assurance that he will remain with us till the end of the age. Though from the day of Ascension, the physical (yet glorious) appearances of the Risen Lord to his disciples come to an end, he assures them his continual presence in spirit. He wants that they should remind themselves about this assurance always (28:20).  Hence, on Ascension Day we celebrate not Christ’s departure (absence) from this world but his continued presence as the One who is with us always.

What was the response of the disciples when they were reunited with the Lord? Today’s text says that when they saw him they worshipped him, though some of them doubted (28:17). Though doubt and worship do not go hand in hand, occasional doubts are possible, because we do not understand the mystery of God fully. This text invites us to respond to Christ’s permanent presence among us either with doubt in its truth or with adoration at his divine majesty just like the eleven disciples (28:17).

4.  Application to life                     

Today’s gospel text asserts that Jesus has been given supreme authority (dominion) over all creation (28:18) by his Father. He is now the Lord of heaven and earth. This authority corresponds to the symbolic expression found in the NT in a number of places that Jesus is now “seated at the right hand of the Father” (Lk 22:69; Rom 8:34; Col 3:1; Heb 12:2); that is, he is equal to God in power and might. To put it in human language, this authority is like a reward given to him by the Father for his total fidelity to his mission or for faithfully completing the work of redemption through his passion, death and resurrection. This feast is a feast of great hope for us. Jesus gives us the assurance that we too shall be where he is, if we too faithfully complete the mission of our life entrusted to us by God as humans and most specially as Christians.

Today, on the feast of Ascension, the Church proclaims Jesus’ dominion over heaven and earth. This implies that nothing is outside his power. As St. Paul asserts, God has put all things under his feet (Eph. 1:20-21). Let us examine and see whether we allow Christ to have total dominion (authority) over our minds, hearts, dealings and activities. Today’s feast invites us to submit ourselves to the authority of Christ over our lives. If we do not care to submit to his total dominion over all that we are, all that we do, all that we shall be, then we shall frequently submit ourselves to our moods, whims and fancies, worldly standards and habits and addictions.

During the Holy Mass, when we sing the most ancient liturgical hymn called ‘Gloria,’ we say: “You alone are the Lord; you alone are the Most High!” Today’s feast poses a question before us whether Christ is the only Lord of our life, or there are other lords and gods whom we adore with equal devotion. Those of us who are in positions of authority such as parents, teachers, leaders (both in the Church and civil society), administrators, pastors and superiors have to see whether we behave as if we are the only ‘the lords’. If we notice misuse of authority or authoritarianism, intimidation, lack of consultation, one-man show and making everybody else dance to one’s own tune when we are in leadership positions, it indicates that we show in our attitudes, “I alone am the lord,” though in the church we say, “You (Christ) alone are the Lord.” Any misuse of power and position in order to take revenge or to exploit those who are powerless goes against this faith. There are also other things and substances which can become our ‘lords’ or in biblical metaphor our ‘idols,’ such as money or wealth, drugs, alcohol, sex, TV, mobile phone, computer and internet, when we get addicted to any of these things. So, the question is who the Lord of our lives is really.

Since “all authority in heaven and on earth” has been given to the glorified Lord (28:18), now before he ascends to heaven, he commissions his disciples with the same authority to preach, baptize and teach all nations (28:18-20). Hence, today’s feast reminds us about our own responsibility to preach the gospel of Christ in word and deed, especially by bearing witness to the values of the gospel and by putting all people into contact with these values. Are we shy or ashamed to speak about the values of the gospel to our children, neighbours and especially to people of other faiths? Do we teach our children the truths of our faith handed down to us from the apostolic times?

Since Jesus began and ended his public ministry in the marginalized region of Galilee, today’s gospel reminds us about our special concern for those who are the least and the last or the helpless and the voiceless. It also reminds duty to teach children the values of the gospel by word and example. For instance, we can teach them the value of sharing by asking them to give a piece of their snacks to some else’s child; or teach them the value of forgiveness and reconciliation by making them ask pardon after fighting with siblings or other children. After making them do these things, it is necessary to tell them why these values are important to us as children of God and disciples of Christ.

The word “baptism” literally means to be immersed or to take a plunge in water. Thus, Jesus’ commission to baptize people not in his name alone, but in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit implies that his disciples must take a plunge into the inner life of the Triune God himself (28:19). The basic traits of the inner life of the Holy Trinity are communion, transparent relationships, communication and understanding. Today, it is good to examine whether we reflect the glimpses of transparency and depth-level communication that exist within the Divine Family (Holy Trinity) in our natural families and religious communities.  Instead of experiencing glimpses of the Heavenly Family, we often experience the shadows of individualism, superficial communication, secretive and non-transparent behaviour/ dealings and a lack of respect for one another’s differences in our families and religious communities. Do we make sincere efforts build up closer bonds of love among us, so that others will come to know the Risen Lord is not absent but still present in our midst?

Jesus who came to remain with us as Emmanuel, promises to remain with us always till the end of time. He is not absent but present in all our situations, problems and struggles. The feast of Ascension invites us to acknowledge his permanent presence in all situations of life and in the Word and sacraments. What a consolation to have him as a friend who walks neither ahead of us nor behind us, but along with us in our joys, sorrows, struggles, frustrations, tensions, crises and death. He has given us the assurance to make common cause with us to share our sorrows, to rejoice in our joys and to carry the burdens of our sins. We need to consciously invite him to remain with us, especially when we are in distress. When we listen to his Word in faith, he speaks to us personally and inspires us to respond to a particular issue the way he wants. He tells us through his Word: “Remember, I am with you in your struggles and problems.” His presence becomes more real and intense as often as we receive the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, God-with-us comes to us in the form of food and drink to become one with us very intimately and to stay with us in all our situations. The gospel challenges us either to believe in his presence in the Eucharist with total adoration and surrender, or to doubt as some of the disciples did when they saw him on the mountain in Galilee.

Christ’s command to make disciples of all nations and teach them all that he has commanded, puts on us the responsibility of bearing a strong witness to his gospel-values so that people of all nations are attracted to him. He wants that we should not only bear witness to his values in word and deed, but also make efforts to teach them to all people. Again, this command puts another responsibility especially on Christian parents to transmit faith and apostolic tradition faithfully to their children.

5.  Response to God's Word

Is Christ the only Lord of our life, or are there other lords whom we adore? Does his lasting, strengthening and assuring presence affect our way of thinking and acting? Is our life a witness to the fact that Jesus lives in us? Do we follow all that he has commanded, or follow him selectively, accepting what we like and leaving out the rest? Does our life reflect the depth-level communication and understanding that exists within the Holy Trinity? Do we teach others to live by this communion? Are our relationships in family and community transparent? Do we transmit the apostolic faith to those who are put under our charge?

6.  A Prayer

Lord Jesus, we proclaim you as the Lord of heaven and earth. You alone are the Lord!; you alone are the Most High. We accept your total dominion over us. We are sorry for the times we made other things and ourselves as the lords of our lives. Thank you for your assurance to remain with us till the end of the age. What a consolation to have you as our friend who walks neither ahead of us nor behind us, but along with us in our joys, sorrows, struggles, frustrations, tensions, crises and death. Thank you for your powerful presence in the Word and the sacraments. Grant that we may be faithful to your teaching and faithfully transmit them to our posterity. Amen.