JESUS IS EVER PRESENT WITH US

⏰Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord - Year B (09 May 2024)

📖Acts 1:1-11; Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 (R.v.6); Eph 1:17-23; Mark 16:15-20

🎤JESUS IS EVER PRESENT WITH US

May the grace of Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you always.

Since the time Jesus began his earthly life, a lot of miracles, signs, and wonders accompanied his actions. Now, he is prepared to return back to the Father from who he had come. His impending departure was very disheartening to his disciples. Hence, he decided to explain to them the meaning of his departure.

He has ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11), yet he is ever present to them, as he is to us. We believe so because he said so (Matt 28:20), and no lie is ever found in his mouth since he the truth par excellence (John 14:6). In essence, his ascension only means a change in the form of his existence. Now, he is no longer going to be bound by geographical boundaries, nor contained by time nor opposed by the Jews.

Do you remember what he earlier told his disciples about his hour? He had said, The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified (John 12:20). The truth that we celebrate today is that God has glorified him and raised him above all dominions on the earth (Eph 1:17-23).

By his incarnation, he brought the Divine into humanity, and by his ascension, he takes our body with him into heaven and reunites humanity with the divinity. He has gone to prepare a place for us so that we may also be where he is (cf. John 14:2-3). Those who belong to him will follow him.

We are privileged to be part of those he has chosen as his very own. But that comes with great responsibility. He charges us, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation" (Mark 16:15). 

The content of that Gospel is found in Luke 4:18-19, where Jesus informed us that he has come to liberate us from every form of bondage. Remember that he goes on working among us (cf. John 5:17) even as he has ascended. So, he is still available to liberate you from your own confusions and life challenges. Are you going to let him work on you?

Moreover, he wants us to join him in liberating others who are having different kinds of challenges. This demands faithfulness on our part. To help achieve that great responsibility of remaining faithful to his call, he promised us the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). 

May this Holy Spirit fall afresh upon us and renew in us, the zeal of remaining faithful witnesses of Christ in the world. Amen.

Have a beautiful celebration in the company of the ascended Christ. Amen. Peace be with you.

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