My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Patrick Cronin in his article ‘the Ascension of the Lord’ asked this question: when Jesus went back to heaven, what did he take with him that he had not brought with him when he came from heaven?’ Can you answer this question?

Patrick Cronin continues that we don’t have to think hard before we realise the answer is central to our Christian faith; namely that the eternal son of God became the human son of Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, and just as Jesus did not stop being God when he was born as a human being, neither did he stop being a human being when he returned to heaven.

The answer is that Jesus took back to heaven his risen human nature because he is and remains both God and man.

My dear brothers and sisters, today, we celebrate the feast of the ascension of the Lord. There are two messages that we could learn and be aware of on this special feast day. First of all, the ascension of the lord marks as the final appearance of Jesus in his physical body with his disciples. From now on, he will not come or show his human body any more with them till the last day when he comes back. The time has come to an end for Jesus and his disciples to be together since the day Jesus rose from his dead. Jesus had enough time to prepare his disciples to believe that he rose from the dead. And now, it is time for Jesus to go back to the Father where he belongs. As he said, I came from the Father and have come into the world and now I leave the world to go to the Father. (Jn 16:28) At the moment of farewell, Jesus assures his disciples that he will be with them always. He also promises that he will ask the father to send them the Holy Spirit. All of these promises prove that Jesus continues to love us and show us of how much he cares for us and will be with us. This is a message for us to learn. Moreover, as the Lord lifted himself up into heaven, he gives us a sign of hope for our future. That is our journey on this earth will not be finished till that last day, when our body also will rise up from the dead and we will see and be united with Jesus body and spirit in his kingdom. When that day comes, it will be a great day for us. As it fulfils the words of Jesus who said: I am going now to prepare a place for you, I shall return to take you with me. (Jn 14:3)

The second message of this feast is about the mission of the church. The disciple today is entrusted by the Lord to continue his mission that is to bring the good news to other people. The mission is to preach and baptise them, make them become members of the church. The mission of Jesus started in place of Galilee where he lived, and where Jesus called his first disciples and began his ministry. Today, at the same place of Galilee, Jesus entrusted his mission to his disciples and sent them out into the world. The Church’s mission began with Jesus and then the twelves and then passed it onto many other followers of Jesus. This mission of the church continues here in wainuiomata, through the parishioners. I like to tell you this story.... how lovely a small gesture could support the mission of the Church? Let us today remember that the faith we receive is from the mission of the Church. And let us remember that the mission of Jesus is the most important mission given to the disciples and everyone of us to fulfil in this life.

My dear brothers and sisters as we celebrate the feast of our Lord’s Ascension today, let us lift our eyes to him and lift our hearts to Jesus, so that one day we can be joined with him in his glory and his kingdom. Let us celebrate the feast of our Lord today with a renewal of our vows of Christian faith, so that we will always have energy and enthusiasm in preaching and witnessing to the gospel and to other people. Let the glory of God shine on us, and let us rejoice with the Lord on his ascension to the Father today. Amen.