Be that as it may, the 1st Reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles gives us food to chew on. Luke took pains to record that the event took place exactly 40 days after the Resurrection. The time frame of 40 days, nights or years refers to phases whereby God’s wayward children undergo cleansing purification and/or paradigm-shifting preparation. They were cleansed of their sins by a 40-day 40-night flood during Noah’s time. For 40 years, they were purified in the desert while preparing to settle in the Promised Land. Even Jesus Himself was subject to the purification of fasting from power, prestige and possession and He prepares for His public ministry.
The period of 40 days sets the post-resurrection stage for Jesus remaining here on earth. It was an intense time of purification and also a preparation for the Apostles—purified of their worldly ideas of the Kingdom and prepared for ministry without the physical presence of Jesus. The ministry waiting for the Apostles is to boldly go into the whole world to make disciples of all the nations through the gift of baptism and to teach all to observe the commands given by Christ.
We have a task ahead of us. In this difficult climate of competing truths, the Truth who Jesus Christ almost stands no chance. The baptism enjoined by Jesus means that we must not only preach with our words but also proclaim with our lives. Everyone here knows how hard it is to match our words with our deeds.
Tough as that may be, the 2nd Reading provides an important detail of the Ascension that has hopeful implications for each one of us. Jesus ascended to seat at the right hand of the Father. There He is far above every Sovereign, Authority, Power and Domination. What are these but the different classes of angelic powers. At the start of creation, God created the angels and as spiritual beings, they are placed way about man. But with the Ascension, Christ in His humanity, has elevated man to a rank even above the angels.
Take a moment to savour this exalted reality. During the 40 days, Jesus was preparing the Church for her mission whereas the Church’s eternal destiny is revealed at the Ascension. It makes sense that the Church dares to proclaim the dogma of the Assumption. In no way is the celebration of Mary being taken into heaven, a deification of Our Lady. Instead, both the Ascension and the Assumption are two sides of the coin of the Resurrection.
The Ascension describes where the Head has gone to and where He is, the Body is bound to follow. Hence, the event of Mary’s Assumption merely states that the Church, the Body of Christ, as represented by her who is the most perfect member, is following in the footsteps of Christ the Head. The Ascension is our divine destiny.
We were given a mission at the Ascension. Go make disciples of all the nations. Why? The command to evangelise is not because we are better but it flows naturally from the act of creation. The entire creation has been created through Him. That means every human being is called to be incorporated into the Body of Christ so that everyone will follow Him to heaven.
Definitely, the Ascension reminds us that we are citizens who straddle two worlds. Even though Jesus is no longer with us physically but through the Ascension, He has made it possible for the Spirit to empower us for the mission of transforming the City of Man. Yet whatever is done on earth has a divine bearing. While we do not neglect our earthly duties here to be Christ to the world, we should always be conscious that our true destiny is to be with Jesus in heaven for in truth we are citizens of the City of God.
