By Deacon Bill Kaiser

          The Gospel is very short today.    Because we know the story so well, we need to be careful that we do not miss the significance of what is happening.

          Jesus had reminded the Apostles many times that He would be leaving them and returning to the Father.   But they did not really understand the implication of that.  He was not going on a simple journey.  He was not going for a visit.  Rather, He was solidifying our salvation. 

          Recently, He had promised it.  “I am going to prepare a place for you.”  Philip asked, “Where are you going?”  He said He was going to the Father.  Philip asked Him, “Show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

          They wanted him to stay.  He told them if He did, then the Holy Spirit would not be able to come.  They did not yet know the power of the Holy Spirit.

          He promised He would not leave them orphans.  He also promised to come back again someday.  Oh how little they knew!  I guess it is true to also say:  “Oh how little we know.”

          We do not have enough time today to go deeply into all that is contained in the event of Jesus’ Ascension.  But here is one important point to consider.

          Why did Jesus remain on earth 40 days after His Resurrection?  Why did He not return to our Father on Easter evening?

          One reason was to allow the Apostles time to let the fact of His Resurrection sink in.  After a shocking event, people’s memories can get confused about what has really occurred.  For instance, “did it happen the way I think?”  “Did it really happen?”  By continuing to be present to them, he was giving them enough time to fully record the event in their minds.  And even more so, to fully comprehend it in their hearts.  They would have to live out the significance of this event for the rest of their holy lives.  

          Second, Jesus loved them so much.  He wanted them to have sufficient time to gradually get prepared for His leaving.  Their sense of loss would be tremendous if He did not delay for a while.

          Finally, He wanted to give them time to completely understand what His Resurrection was all about.  Its significance went far beyond just being an event.  They would need sufficient time for filling in the gaps in their understanding.  Time for training, if you will.  As the first priests, the undertaking was monumental.  And their duty, now, was to spread Jesus’ message.

          How about us?  Do we fully understand?  Doubtful.  But that is okay.  Our faith journey is a life-time undertaking of growth.  This is what makes our Catholic faith and belief so beautiful.

          As one writer put it, “Because of the ‘great commission’ of Jesus on the Mount of the Ascension, we, too, are sent to teach others the compassion and mercy of God that have blessed our lives.  We are to be the means for our communities to experience the love and hope of God that we have come to know.  We are to reveal the healing forgiveness of God to the broken and the lost that transforms and heals us.”

          This point is extremely important for us at this time in our world’s history. May God strengthen us and lead us in our mission.