Gospel & Reflection for the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord.
Luke 24:46-53
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘You see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this.
‘And now I am sending down to you what the Father has promised. Stay in the city then, until you are clothed with the power from on high.’
Then he took them out as far as the outskirts of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. Now as he blessed them, he withdrew from them and was carried up to heaven. They worshipped him and then went back to Jerusalem full of joy; and they were continually in the Temple praising God.
Reflection
Friends, every January, a ceremony called ‘The Beating Retreat’ is held in India. It is a military ceremony paying tribute to the valour and sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces. It is presided over by the President of India who is the Head of the Armed Forces. The centrepiece of the occasion is an impressive marching display. The marching is highly stylized, executed to perfection and performed to the accompaniment of numerous musical instruments, especially drums.
Up to three years ago, the finale of the ceremony was always eagerly anticipated. Instead of a military tune, or a traditional Indian song, the final piece of music was a Christian hymn. In tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, considered India’s post-colonial ‘Father of the Nation,’ the musicians always played his favourite hymn, ‘Abide with Me.’ So, although most of the spectators, participants, and honourees in the ceremony were Hindu, Buddhist, or Sikh, the climax was that sacred Christian song, played and listened to with respectful enthusiasm. It was dropped from the ceremony three years ago, a change that still bitterly divides opinion in India.
However, for Gandhi, the hymn was particularly important because it expressed what he genuinely believed about life, living, and faith. He knew that all glory did not belong with him or anyone else, but with God. That is why he could, and did sing, “When other helpers fail and comforts flee, help of the helpless, O abide with me.”
This weekend, we celebrate the promise of Eternal Glory that Jesus made to us and which we hope for, not just for ourselves but for all whom we love. Through the Ascension, the bridge between Heaven and earth was opened, and where God is, He wants us to be. This is something that we cannot accomplish by ourselves. It is a gift. It is grace. But we can help ourselves with it by opening our hearts to that gift, and in all we say and do, abide with the Lord always, as He abides with us.
But, just what is Heaven? What is this Eternal Glory? Where do we hope to be?
We often think, picture, and speak of Eternal Life in terms of location. However, maybe, Heaven is more that just a location beyond the cosmos. Could it be that Heaven is a person – Heaven is God Himself – where those who believe in Him will enjoy His love forever?
St. Augustine 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.
Before his own journey to Heaven a few short weeks ago, Pope Francis reminded us that: “We are made for Heaven. God is in love with us. And for us He has prepared the most worthy and beautiful place: paradise.”
The Feast of the Ascension reminds us of that paradise, that worthy and beautiful place in God, because He made us, and we do belong with Him, now and forever.
Fr. Richard
