Ascension Sunday

Ascension 

            The Acts of the Apostles say that when Jesus was lifted up “a cloud took him from their sight.” It means that they couldn’t see him anymore because he was obscured by a cloud. It doesn’t mean that he is not there anymore. He is still there behind the cloud until the end of time. The book of Revelation says that Jesus will come sitting on a cloud to judge the living and the dead. He is not too far away from us, even though we cannot see him. He is just behind the cloud, watching us. Like the sun when it disappears during the storm. It is always up there shining, stable, making the earth orbit around it. We know God is always there, even though our lives are going through a dark patch. He is always in control.

            While they were looking intently at the sky as he was ascending, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?” Jesus had to send two angels to tell them that he was gone for good, that he was not coming back in the near future. They were now in charge; it was their turn. After three years giving them the Gospel, now it was their task to pass it on to the next generation. And they did do it, giving themselves, leaving their lives behind, dying for Christ like he did for us.

            Now it is our turn. We have a big responsibility in our own hands. Baptism empowers us to bring the Gospel to people around us, manly as witnesses of Christ resurrection. People nowadays see Jesus as a good man, who said beautiful things, but they place him at the level of other religious figures. There is a big, crucial difference between Jesus and them. They say: follow my teachings. Jesus says: love me and become like me. He is the only one who claims he is the Son of God. He is either mad or he really is God. We believe with faith in his divinity, and this belief has an influence in our lives. We cannot be indifferent to his claim. We need to study and test if what he says is true.

            The apostles gave us a great example: “they returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” It is the joy of the good news, knowing that you have a treasure in your hands, that the truth is with you and you can help other people to be free of their addictions, miseries, shortcomings and darkness. This is a sign that the Holy Spirit is with us. There is something inside of us that pushes us to spread the fire burning in our hearts.

            The angels finished their message saying: “This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” He hasn’t left us orphans. He is coming back! Every day a bit closer. He is waiting for us to finish our mission and then to pick us up and take us to the place he has prepared for us. It is going to be a big surprise, something we have never dreamed of. No worries if you are getting tired. We have the whole eternity to rest, relax and enjoy our relationship with God and the people we love.

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