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—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, experienced.
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.
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