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ASCENSION DAY   
Gospel Mt 28:16-20
The Start of the Church’s Journey

Introduction
What do we celebrate on Ascension Sunday? Many of us say that we celebrate the departure of the Lord from this world. Are we happy when someone we love goes away? Why then do we celebrate the departure of Jesus? We find the answers to these questions in today’s gospel.

The Departure
Strikingly Matthew presents the departure of the Lord in a form of meeting more than departure. The meeting of Jesus and his disciples according to Matthew takes places in Galilee and not Jerusalem. Why? The Location of the meeting means that apostles, following their Master, are to begin the proclamation of the Gospel from the very place where Jesus began his public life. Galilee was a region rather looked down upon by the rest of Israel because it was composed of a population that had mixed with pagans. Matthew wants to say that it is to these pagans that the good news is directed and Jerusalem has lost its privilege of being is the spiritual centre of Israel; it will be better known as the city that killed the Messiah.

They met the Risen Lord
The meeting with the Risen Lord takes place on the mountain (Mt 20:16). The mountain in Matthew’s gospel is the place where God manifests himself. It is on a mountain that he speaks with persons like Moses and Elijah. So using the same image Matthew places Jesus on a mountain every time he has to say or do something very important. The sending of the disciples into the whole world is an extremely important thing.

The Christian Community
It is surprising to hear that “... they doubted” (Mt 20:17). Had they not met the Risen Lord in Jerusalem? How can they still be in doubt? This is an important teaching in Matthew. Matthew wants to tell us that the Christian community is not made up of perfect people, but is a mixture of the good and the less good, wheat and weeds (Mt 13:29), good and bad fish (Mt 13:47).

Faith and Doubt
Is it possible to believe in Christ and still doubt? Yes. In fact, we cannot have both faith and certainty. For instance, I cannot say that I believe in the existence of the sun, because I am certain it exists, I can see it, I can scientifically prove it. In faith certainty is impossible.
Like the apostles we can know the truth of the resurrection of Christ, but we cannot verify it. The doubts of the apostles console us. We believe in Christ, but we also have doubts and uncertainties. We should not be discouraged: Jesus will transform us and strengthen our faith.

The Mission of the Apostles
Jesus was sent by the Father to bring the message of salvation to the world. He now entrusts this work to his disciples? They will have to bring the good news to all people, and in order to do that Jesus gives them his own power. The Church has to make Christ present in the world. New disciples will become members of the community through baptism. Through this they will become God’s children and will share in the life of the Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Spirit. And then we are sent to the world to proclaim the good news.

I Am With You Always
 “Behold I am with you always, yes, to the end of the age” (Mt 20:20). Luke ends his gospel by saying that Jesus ascended to heaven. Matthew says that the Ascension of Jesus was in fact a “descent,” in the company of his disciples, towards people. This is the reason for our joy, and for today’s feast. Jesus has not gone far from us, he has not gone to some other place, he is still with us though in a different way. Before Easter he could only be in one place at a time, he could only speak to a small number of people. These limits have been removed; he is in the glory of his Father, but still close to us for ever, everywhere.

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Ascension Sunday

Pentecost Sunday

Trinity Sunday

Adapted from:

Celebrating the Word Year A

By Fernando Armellini