Homily for Solemnity of the Ascension

Homily for the 

Solemnity of the Ascension

June 2, 2019

Acts 1: 1-11
Luke 24: 46-53
Heb 9: 24-28; 10: 19-23
Collect
Nativity, Washington, D.C.   
St. Francis de Sales, Washington, D.C.

“The ascension of Christ your Son is our exaltation, and, where the Head has gone before in glory, the Body is called to follow in hope” (John 13: 34).

The feast of the Ascension of the Lord used to complete the Easter season, but that now extends to Pentecost, next Sunday.  From several references to the sending of the Holy Spirit in today’s readings, you can tell there’s a link among Christ’s resurrection and ascension and the sending of the Spirit upon his disciples.

by Gustave Dore'

In another sense, the ascension does complete our Easter feast.  That is, there’s an intimate connection between the resurrection and the ascension.  Except for Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene outside the empty tomb on Easter morning, all of the appearances of Jesus recorded in the gospels are appearances of the ascended Lord, even if St. Luke describes some kind of physical ascent 40 days after Easter.  What all the gospels and Acts and other New Testament writings assure us of is that Jesus, risen from the dead, lives in transformed bodily form in the heavenly presence of his Father.

What does that mean for us?  Why’s that important?

The Collect states it clearly:  the lifting up or exaltation of Christ in his human body at the same time lifts up human nature, exalts all of humanity.  He’s opened the way for the rest of us to follow.  Heaven’s no long off limits to us; the doors are open, and the welcome mat’s laid out for all who belong to him.  Where the Head has gone—Christ, the head of God’s people—the Body hopes to follow, all of us who are his.  His glory will become our glory in his Father’s house.  The exaltation of his human body and soul is our destiny too.

For that purpose the risen and exalted Christ exercises a priestly role of intercession, from his privileged place at the Father’s side, as the Letter to the Hebrews brings out.  Our Lord Jesus isn’t lounging in a recliner with a remote in hand until it’s time for his return.  No, he’s still at work on our behalf, continuing to offer himself in atonement for our sins, cleansing our consciences, assisting us on our pilgrimage thru this life toward the eternal life for which we hope.

Nor are we to sit around in lounge chairs while we await his return.  “This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way…” (Acts 1:11).  “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead” (Creed).  Unlike his humble 1st coming at Bethlehem, at his 2d coming he’ll come in regal splendor and as a fearsome judge.

While we await his return, he’s given us work to do—work not just for the apostles but for every disciple:  his passion and resurrection, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins are to “be preached in his name to all the nations” (Luke 24:46-47).  The earthly mission of Jesus hasn’t been completed; we are to carry it on as his witnesses (24:48), “in Jerusalem, thruout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

There are still places where the Gospel has never been heard, besides places where it’s been rejected.  Not even a third of the world’s people today, in this age of mass media and intercontinental travel, is Christian, even in name—not to speak of those who say they’re Christian but live otherwise.

So you and I have our work to do, to be witnesses of Christ.  Altho there are opportunities to go out as missionaries on temporary basis, we don’t have to go to the Amazon or New Guinea.  Right here in Washington, among our own families, friends, colleagues, and even strangers we may encounter, we can witness to Jesus by offering a smile that speaks for our inner peace and joyful hearts because Jesus Christ lives and redeems us; by offering a helping hand or a listening ear; by living simply and not ostentatiously.  And perhaps, if occasion arises, we may speak of our faith and of the one whom our hearts love.  St. Peter advises us in his First Letter, “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence” (3:15-16).

But how can we do that, give regular, steady witness to Christ?  We’re sinful people.  We have so many faults.  We’re timid or shy or not eloquent or in poor health.  Were the apostles and 1st disciples courageous?  morally perfect?  Not hardly!  Which is why Jesus promised them the Holy Spirit.  He told them not to go anywhere or start anything until he’d sent “the promise of my Father upon you, until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49), until “you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:5).  The gift of the Holy Spirit changed the apostles radically.  We too have received that gift—for the forgiveness of our sins, for the courage, the fortitude, and the wisdom to be witnesses to the world that Jesus Christ is our Lord, the one who owns our hearts, guides our words and actions, and is the one in whom we hope for eternal life.