The Ascension of the Lord (B), May 17, 2015 – Acts 1, 1-11; Eph 1, 17-23 or 4, 1-13; Mk 16, 15-20

The surpassing greatness of his power for us (Eph 1, 19)

The Son of God goes up to heaven. He brings humanity with him, for whose salvation he came down from heaven.

Jesus becomes like us in every way but sin. He is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters. He values us so much he offers us the ascent we have longed for from the beginning.

We humans always want to be more than what we are, to be like God even ultimately. It is not bad; nothing less is expected of those created in the image of the one who is supremely perfect. What is bad is when one tries to be like God not in Jesus’ way.

Jesus goes up because he has come down. He is exalted because he has humbled himself. Human to the utmost, the last and the slave of all, he is divine, the first and the greatest of all.

The Christian way down is the only way up. Those who have been raised with Christ are urged to seek what is above, but this does not mean it is enough that they just stand there looking at the sky. In fact, they are taught: “Christians, on pilgrimage toward the heavenly city, should seek and think of these things which are above. This duty in no way decreases, rather it increases, the importance of their obligation to work with all men in the building of a more human world” (GS 57).

Indeed, our task is to be Jesus’ witnesses. Those who are overly concerned about knowing the esoteric can easily end up fleeing from the world and humanity.

To witness to Jesus is to embrace the world and humanity as he does. Faithful to his mission, he does not condemn the world but saves it. He never turns his back on his own.

To ascend with Jesus, then, is to prefer serving to being served. Disciples will go around to towns and villages, teaching, proclaiming the Good News, taking care of the sick and the afflicted. They will utterly and gladly be spent to help the poor in every way. They will respect everyone, especially the marginalized.

They will embrace, besides, their human limitations. Like St. Vincent de Paul, they will honor God’s omnipotence by recognizing their own powerlessness (SV.FR III:194). And they will be convinced, as St. Irenaeus, that human flesh, nourished by Christ’s body and blood, is capable, though mortal and corruptible, of receiving eternal life, immortality and incorruptibility, “for God’s power is shown most perfectly in weakness.”

Lord, grant that the more we long for heaven, the more eagerly we give ourselves to building a better world.

Ross Reyes Dizon

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