To read the texts click on the texts: Acts1:1-11; Eph 1:17-23; Mt 28: 16-20
Though
the First and Second readings and the Responsorial Psalm are common for all
three years A, B and C, the Gospel readings differ on Ascension Sunday. In year
A the Church reads from Matthew, in year B from the longer and canonical ending
of Mark (Mk 16:15-20) and in year C from the last chapter and verses of Luke
(Lk 24:46-53). While Mark and Luke clearly mention the detail of Jesus
ascending into heaven, Matthew does not. Yet, the scene in Matthew conveys a
depth of meaning that the other Synoptic Gospels find difficult to match.
Matthew’s
text is made up of two parts. The first of these is the encounter of the
disciples with the Risen Lord on the mountain in Galilee and the second is the
commission which the Risen Lord gives to his disciples. The encounter with the
disciples is described as a matter of fact, as an event which takes place
ordinarily. The response of the disciples to the appearance of Jesus is worship
mixed with doubt. This is to indicate that the Risen Jesus comes to a Church
that while it worships also wavers, while it believes also hesitates, while it
has faith also doubts. This is the Church to which the commission is given and
by sacrificing sensationalism, the text focuses on the words of the Risen
Jesus. The universalizing “All” before the revelation which Jesus makes about
his authority, before the commission that he gives the disciples, and before
assuring them of his abiding presence, makes the whole scene universal in
scope. The local Mission of Jesus has become now universal.
The
first reading from the Acts of the Apostles already sets the tone for the
Universal Mission which the disciples are given. Here they are commissioned to
be witnesses not only in Jerusalem but to the ends of the earth. However, even
as they are commissioned they are cautioned about two things. The first is
patience. They must wait for the gift of the Spirit with openness and
receptivity. The second is that it not for them to know too many details about
time, place and the like. Their job is only to be witnesses. To use the words
of St. Francis of Assisi, they are called to “Proclaim the Gospel at all times.
When necessary, use words.” They were meant to be those who could give evidence
for what they have seen and heard. They could not be witnesses unless they had
met the Risen Christ and unless their lives have been transformed by him. Their
testimony was about him, not just about what happened long ago and far away.
They were to give evidence about what they themselves have heard, seen,
experience
The
evidence that they were to give and the message that they were to proclaim, was
good news. The message was hope and light and love. It was a message which
Jesus himself had taught them and this is what they were to teach. This was why
even before Jesus sent them out, he made explicit that the authority was his
and not theirs. Their job was not to usurp this authority, but simply to
welcome all peoples to make the same discovery that they had made in their
faith journey, the discovery of the God of light and of goodness, of mercy and
of compassion, of justice and of reconciliation -- and not impose their own
cultural values or their own cultural traditions in the process. It was
allowing others to make that discovery freely and joyfully. Authority has been
given to Christ.
This
was remembered by Christians in the first century as is evident in the
community living which resulted as a result of the witness to the words and
deeds of Jesus. They also realized that the Church was but the body of the
Risen Christ and so had to continue to be an extension of him who was raised.
The
missionary movement of the Church stemming from the Mission command of Jesus
continued and does so even today. There are moments in the Church’s history in
which we see truly gracious, noble, altruistic and selfless acts of dedication
and service. A lot of good has been done in every continent and corner of the
earth because the Church continued to take seriously the command of Jesus.
However,
it is also true that sometimes we as Church seemed to have forgotten the real
message and concentrated on getting converts to the faith at any cost. This has
left in some places a memory of hurt, pain, loss and even suffering. We have
sometimes missed the point. The mistake that we sometimes make is to forget
that the authority rests with Jesus and not with us. Our role continues to be
only that of proclaimers who will “disciple” peoples everywhere by teaching
them through our lives what Jesus has commanded us and done in us.
