GO OUT AND PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD - Acts 1:1-11

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul applies to Jesus the saying of Psalm 68:18: “When you ascended on high, you took many captives” (NIV) Psalm 47:5 also says that “God has ascended amid shouts of joy”. And Paul completes his thought: “The one who rose higher than all the heavens to fill all things is none other than the one who descended.”

So, we may say that we are celebrating the other side of incarnation in today’s solemnity. It is a kind of pendular movement, expressed very clearly in the letter to the Philippians:

As the Son of God, He “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 4:7-11)

In the Ascension of the Lord, we celebrate Christ’s glorification, singing the praises of the one seated at the Father’s right hand. Having carried out the plan of salvation by reconciling us with God through his blood shed for us on the cross, he founded the Church to continue his mission. He granted each one of us a share of grace and entrusted us with different gifts for the building up of the Church: “And to some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ.” (Ep 4:11-12).

Jesus’ mandate to the Church is very clear:

• “you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth.”
• “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation” (Mk 16:15). 

As we celebrate the glorification of Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour, let us renew our commitment to be his witnesses and to “proclaim the Good News to all creation.”