4.05.2008 - The Ascension of Our Lord - year A
First Reading; Acts 1,1-11 Psalm 47 Second Reading; Eph 1,17-23
Gospel Reading; Matt 28,16-20
"..the Father by whom all things were made". In the first article of the creed we state that God the Father is the Maker of all the universe. Since the Son is begotten and, therefore, God, is he also Maker? The Son certainly participates in God's act of creation. We say that all things were made through him, quoting from the New Testament. John the evangelist says in his prologue: "all things were made through him and nothing that was made was made without him" (1,3) St Paul says the same in his letter to the Colossians; "the whole universe has been created through him and for him" (1,16).The Son participates in the Father's act of creation in a different manner! He is the Word of God, God's project of love which he wishes to transmit and communicate: through this love God created all things. In all things a trace or the imprint of the Son can be found. He himself helps us to observe everything around us, when he says; "I am the way, I am the light, I am the door, I am the bread, I am the life, etc. Everything transmits something of the Father's love, that he, the Son, incarnates in its totality. We Christians should become accustomed to observing everything in the light of God and to see everywhere the reflection of his love, and therefore, the distinctive characteristics of his Son, of Jesus. If we were able to do this as were many of the saints, we would be more peaceful and joyful, we would be more profound in our reasoning and, without doubt, more optimistic! All things were made through the Son: to understand the meaning of everything, we must look to him and identify ourselves with him and with his love. If we do this, we will no longer complain about anything, not even the cold or the heat, the rain or the sun! Everything will give us joy, we will be grateful for everything, we will search for the aspect of love in everything that the Father sends us through his Son!
"Men of Galilee, why stand there, looking up into the sky? This Jesus
who has been taken from you up to heaven will come in the same way as you have
seen him go!" The mystery of Jesus' ascension into heaven is a great mystery,
that both hides and reveals the Father's love for mankind. It is hidden from
us, because at first we are unable to understand and just as the disciples we
stare at the clouds and the blueness of the sky in its material aspect, at the
sign used by God to communicate with us. It is revealed to us at the moment
we begin to make it an object of faith, which we observe in its spiritual depth.
The angels speak of this fact as of a prophecy, the promise of his second coming:
he will return in the clouds! And once again we can see, in case we had forgotten
or underestimated it, that Jesus is the Son of Man of whom the prophet Daniel
speaks (7,13-14): "I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds
of heaven; he approached the Ancient in Years and was presented to him. Sovereignty
and glory and kingly power were given to him, so that all peoples and nations
of every language should serve him; his sovereignty was to be an everlasting
sovereignty which was not to pass away, and his kingly power was never to be
destroyed". The fact of the Ascension proves us Jesus' identity and his
place in God's plan. It is that Jesus who was with us as Master and friend,
who is the judge of all peoples, he whom all the world will stand before. And
so we are more and more grateful for having known him, listened to him and loved
him and we are sure of the eternal worth of his word and, therefore, of being
on a safe, true path. Jesus who ascends to heaven is a further guarantee of
God's regard for him. He will always be next to the Father, no-one will take
his place: all the so-called wise men, who come after him and try to present
themselves as an incarnation of God or sent by him, can be recognised as liars
and cheats. There are some in every age and in ours too! Jesus is at the right
hand of the Father for always and from this throne he sends his Spirit to guide
and sustain all of us on our difficult path on earth and to protect and illuminate
the Church. He himself wished the Church to always be present to accompany men
and women and bring them together in unity to present them to the Father! The
Holy Spirit, whom he will send, will make men and women, who are weak and timorous,
strong and courageous in order to testify to his beauty and his truth and to
testify that only he is the true and eternal salvation for everyone.
St Paul also speaks of this and, above all, Jesus when he sends his apostles
into the world. Their mission is necessary for all people, even those who worship
other ancient religions. These latter do not improve mankind's life on earth
and nor do they teach how to be a brother to the suffering, they do not lead
to communion and peace nor do they give salvation. Jesus, sitting at the right
of the father, is the gift for everyone, the son which illumines and warms all
the people of the earth and helps mature the seeds of goodness in the hearts
of everyone of every nation!
Thank you, Jesus; we are waiting for you and, obedient to your word, we are
preparing for your coming!