Gospel & Reflection for the Ascension of the Lord

“In Fourteen Hundred and Ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue!”

We are all very familiar with that little rhyme, helping us from childhood to remember the historical year when Christopher Columbus set sail on the adventure of a lifetime in his ship, the Santa Maria. As we know, Columbus was an Italian, but he was sponsored and supported by the Spanish Crown. He was looking for a route to India and Asia to acquire valuable spices and gold. Unfortunately, he did not end up where he was headed. Instead, he found the Bahamas, Cuba and various other Caribbean islands.

But this man from Genoa believed sincerely and said, “God granted me the gift of knowledge … revealed to me that it was feasible to sail … to the Indies… and placed in me a burning desire to carry out this plan.” Columbus set out then with a belief that he had tested with his mind, and with a Faith to which he was willing to give his life. When, on Friday, August 3, 1492, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, eased away from their moorings at Palos, in southern Spain, Columbus’ beliefs and faith were very much at odds with the then known realities of old-world affairs.

Navigational experts agreed that a westward voyage to Asia, across the Atlantic, was impossible. This understanding was even stamped on Spanish coins minted at the time showing nautical maps with the Latin inscription: ‘Ne Plus Ultra’ or; ‘No more beyond.’ But once Columbus returned home and told of what he had seen, of what he had discovered, and once that report was widely shared, new coins were minted. The inscription was changed to ‘Plus Ultra’ or ‘More beyond!’.

Well, ‘more beyond’ is the mountain top affirmation given by Christ today and it is the comforting and consoling note that ends St. Matthew’s Gospel. Christ reassures the Apostles, assures us all, that our relationship with Him is never ending, that He is with us always, and there is more beyond this world and life. Through the Ascension, the great sea between Heaven and earth is opened, and where God is, He wants us to be.

But just what is this ‘more beyond’? What is Heaven? We often think, picture, and speak of Heaven in terms of location. However, maybe, Heaven is more than just a location beyond the cosmos. Could it be though that Heaven is a person – Heaven is God Himself – where those who believe in Him will enjoy His love forever? St. Augustine once said: “Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until they rest in thee.” Even the great and faithful Augustine was longing not to be somewhere after death but to be with someone – and that someone is God. Heaven, it seems, is not just simply another world beyond our own where we live with God – Heaven is a dimension where we live in God?

Can there be anything more beautiful? Heaven is all that we dream and want it to be; its everything we know it is, but within God, not outside of Him. But being within God is something that we cannot accomplish by ourselves. It is a gift. It is grace. Yet, we can help ourselves with it, by opening our hearts to that gift, and in all we say and do, like Columbus, have a burning desire to witness to it.

The Feast of the Ascension reminds us of that paradise, that worthy and beautiful place in God – the One who made us – and who is with us always, and wants us to be with Him. If we follow His commands, then where He is gone to, we will follow. If we desire Heaven, then we will end up exactly where we are heading for.

Fr. Richard