Jesus is the Father’s Sent One to preach the Good News to the poor.  To see him by the light of faith go up to heaven is to take up the mantle of prophecy and mission he has left us. 

As Elijah goes up to heaven, his mantle falls from him.  And Elisha picks it up.

He then strikes the water of the Jordan with the mantle.  And the water parts to the right and to the left, so he crosses Jordan.  It goes to show that the spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.  Thus, Elisha’s hard wish comes true just as Elijah said it would if Elisha saw him taken up to heaven.

No, there is no mantle that falls from Jesus as he goes up to heaven.  Yet the men in white do suggest that the disciples should take up his mantle.  In other words, they must go and preach to the poor the Good News of God’s kingdom and justice.  Jesus sends them, and they will be, yes, his witnesses throughout the world.

As his witnesses, the disciples will show that they know him better than they knew him in the flesh.  For he has come to life again and is with his Father; he has passed beyond the life of the flesh (St. Cyril).

This means that they hold in tension his absence and his presence:  they accept the fact that he has gone from them; still, they know by faith that he lives and is with them.

They also know him better than they knew him in the flesh in yet another sense.  For their faith shows him to them in poor folks (see SV.EN XI:26).  So, they serve him and them.  They let him and them preach, besides, the Good News and true worship (SV.EN XI:190).  And they learn from him and them to be the last, to serve.  And to give up their bodies and shed their blood.  So basically, to witness to Jesus is to live the Paschal Mystery.

Lord Jesus, grant that we take up your mantle of prophecy and mission and live the mystery of your suffering, dying, rising, raising.  And make us heed Pope Leo XIV’s words that we preach the Good News and be missionaries.  Give us the courage that will drive us to speak out against all greed and give up all craving for power.

1 June 2025
Ascension of the Lord (C)
Acts 1, 1-11; Eph 1, 17-23; Lk 24, 46-53