The Ascension of Jesus Christ points to the glory of the final promise

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Holy Names of Jesus & Mary Catholic Church

Memphis, Tennessee, USA

June 5, 2011

Dearest beloved, today we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. The Lord’s Ascension is an integral part of the paschal mystery, which began with the death and resurrection of Jesus, and continues with his Ascension, then, closes with the Pentecost (i.e. the coming of the Holy Spirit). The Ascension of Jesus signifies the triumph, glorification and enthronement of Jesus in heaven. The Ascension is the realization of a dream and hope. The Ascension is the fulfillment of a target. It is the achievement of a goal. That dream, that hope, that target, that goal is HEAVEN. That realization, that fulfillment, that achievement is the glory of HEAVEN. Heaven is the final promise of God to every follower of his Son, Jesus Christ.

This solemnity is so central to Christian tradition that the four gospels speak explicitly and implicitly about it. It is so important because the Ascension of Jesus into heaven points and reminds us of the final glory in heaven. After all, the Lord says in John 14: 3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, so that where I am, you also may be.”

On the Ascension of the Lord, three points may be considered. Number one: Jesus is going up to heaven but not as he came down from heaven. The Lord came down from heaven as the Son of God, and he goes up to heaven as the Son of God and also the Son of Mary. He came down from heaven as the only Son of God, but now, he goes up to heaven as our Brother and Redeemer. In one sense, he is the only Son of God, but in another sense, he is not the only begotten of the Father, for through his own suffering and death, he has ransomed and begotten each of us as sons and daughters of God. Through his redemption, we have all become God’s adopted sons and daughters. We have become his brothers and sisters. The Lord was the only Son of God and the only Son of Mary, but through his redeeming blood poured out for us, we have become his brothers and sisters. He is also our Lord and God. Number two: Jesus goes up to heaven without really leaving us. He stays with us as the Risen Lord. Although he is not physically present with us, he is spiritually present in and among us. He is present in the Holy Spirit he sends to us, for it is the Spirit of the Father and Son. He also continues to be with us really in the Eucharist, in common and private prayer, in the neighbor- especially the poor, and in those who evangelize for the Lord. It is interesting to point out that the last words of Jesus in the gospel of Matthew is a promise to be present always: “And behold I am with you always, until the end of time” (Matthew 21:20).

The Ascension of the Lord is not a change of place for Jesus. We must avoid the danger of boxing Jesus in heaven, away from us. After all, heaven is living in God’s presence- presence which begins here and now with the grace of the Lord, and then ends in the glory of heaven. Remember, in the gospel of John 17:3, Jesus defines eternal life (i.e. the glory of heaven) like this, “And eternal life means to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent.”

The number three point to consider as we celebrate the Lord’s Ascension is that the Ascension of Jesus reminds us of the destiny of his followers. A Christian is a pilgrim. We are on a journey. When someone starts a journey, he or she wants to get to the destination. The hope of the Christian pilgrim is the destination of heaven.

Writings or articles about heaven do not get a press coverage. You can hardly read an article on heaven in the New York Times Magazine. Even in the Church, homilies or sermons on heaven is seldom preached about. Some people argue that we know little or nothing about heaven. Theologians continue to argue whether heaven is a place or a state. Heaven, most conclude is a mystery. Because no one has come from heaven to earth to tell us how it looks like, we shy away from talking about it. Even when the rich man in hell wanted Father Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers on earth so as to warn them to change their lifestyles or else they would end in hell, his request was immediately turned down. What is in heaven is not adequately known. Brother Gene Patin CSsR has variously asked me questions like, “How is heaven like?” “I hope there will be food in it?” “What are we going to be doing in heaven?” “I hope heaven is not going to be a boring place?”

I read about the story of a doctor and his terminally ill patient, who was very scared of dying. Out of fear of death, the patient asked his doctor: “What is there in heaven?” The doctor answered: “I don’t know.” In amazement, the patient said again: “You do not know? How come? You are a devout Catholic and you attend Mass daily, yet you don’t know what is there in heaven?” At that time, there was a big noise produced by someone who wanted to force the door of the clinic open. It was a big dog, the doctor’s dog. Entering the clinic, the dog runs, jumps, embraces and kisses the doctor. Then, the entrance of the dog provided a teaching opportunity for the doctor. The doctor now said to his patient: “Did you see my dog? He did not know what was in this room, but he knew that someone, his master was here, and that was enough for him. I do not know what is in heaven, but I know one thing: God my Father is there, Jesus my Redeemer is there, and that is enough for me.”

Dearest beloved, the Ascension of Jesus points to us the glory of the final promise- heaven. Heaven is the reward of righteousness. Heaven is the gift of eternal life. It is the final rest and home of a believer. Our time on earth is just a temporary state; 70 years, 90 years, 100 years is like a drop of water on an ocean when you compare it with the blessedness of heaven. Whatever we have on earth, whatever privileges we enjoy on earth, whatever beauty we see on earth, whatever fellowship we partake on earth, we should always be thinking of the eternal home of a believer, which is heaven, where our Lord has ascended into. Jesus himself says, “In my Father’s house, there are so many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, so that where I am, you also may be” (John 14:2).

The Ascension of Jesus reminds us of heaven- our place of rest. Heaven is the dwelling place of God. As you think of the majesty of God himself, also think of the majesty of the place he dwells. As you think of the greatness of God, think of the greatness of heaven. As you think of the beauty of God, think of the beauty of heaven. As you think of the mystery of this earth where we live now, think of the mystery and the majesty of heaven. Human language cannot paint a good picture enough. Human oratory cannot paint the picture to show us what heaven is like. St. Paul himself in 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” But we know that heaven is a place of undisturbed, perfect eternal rest. In this world, we are easily disturbed. Rest is easily disturbed on earth. But heaven is a place of uninterrupted perfect eternal rest. It is a place of everlasting peace without worry or anxiety. It is a place of joy without sorrow. Heaven is a place of full satisfaction without disappointment. It is a place of fellowship with Jesus Christ and with the people of God. It is a place of enjoyment without interruption.

In this world, joy or enjoyment is often interrupted. Triumph is often interrupted; victory is often interrupted, may be by accidents or whatever that comes in a person’s life. But when we get to heaven, we will enjoy eternally without a moment interruption. Heaven is a place of reward without rebuke. In fact, heaven is the greatest hope we have.

St. Paul tells us that we are citizens of heaven. And as citizens of heaven, let us commit ourselves deeply to be witnesses of the Risen Lord. Let us strive to crucify every sinful passions and desires. Let us crucify the sins of hatred, jealousy, unforgiveness, injustice, discrimination, and selfishness. For us, to live should be Jesus Christ. For us to live should be love. The command of Jesus today is: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” As we go about doing the work of our Lord, he assures us: “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

We are citizens of heaven. The Ascension of the Lord points to our destiny. We are pilgrims on the way to heaven. A 90 year old priest was asked: “Father, how are you today?” He answered: “Very well, one day closer to heaven.” If we are living right, proclaiming Jesus in words and deeds, each passing day becomes a match closer to heaven. An old man was seen walking from his city to another city. Halfway, he stopped by in a restaurant to rest a little. He was very tired, but still determined to keep walking. He has no car and no money to ride with a public bus. And he was not ready to beg or to borrow. Inside the restaurant, a man asked him: “How will you get to the other city on foot? Don’t you know it is far away?” The old man replied: ““It will not be so difficult: my heart got there first, so it is easy for the rest of me to follow.”

Sisters and brothers, where is our heart? Jesus says in Matthew 6:21, “For where your heart is, there your treasure will be also.” With heaven as our goal, let us press on; let us go on journeying towards heaven, where there will be no death, no mourning, but life, love and happiness. Meanwhile, let us walk with others and for others; let us love God, neighbor, creation. Remember the words of St. Augustine: we can only walk forward to heaven with steps of love!