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The Homily of 7th Sunday of Easter Mass By Fr. Kimm For us, saying goodbye to people is usually something sad. Think about people moving away, leaving their jobs, or graduating from school. Even though we may also have a sense that people are making a change that is for the best, we feel sad because we'll miss them, because good times we've shared have come to an end. In Luke's gospel, there's not a hint of sadness in the disciples after the risen Jesus was "taken up to heaven." In fact, Luke says that the disciples "returned to Jerusalem with great joy." Why should the ascension of the Lord bring joy to the disciples--and to us? Certainly we can all find joy in Jesus taking his proper place at God's "right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion." But, along with the disciples, we can rejoice in Jesus' ascension for a far more personal reason: it was only after Jesus was freed from the limitations of his earthly existence that he became free from any limitations on how he can be present and active in our lives. He can now be the unseen guest in our homes and at our tables; he can now be the guiding force behind important decisions we must make; he can now be a comfort to us on days when we are lonely or afraid; he can now nourish us and strengthen us with his own body and blood in the Eucharist. Because Jesus has ascended, he can now be everywhere, be working everywhere--even in his sisters and brothers. Jesus has been taken from our sight but he is not gone at all. While seated at the right hand of God in heaven, he is still with us, only in a way that is better than ever. Let us rejoice!
Ascension (C) May 22-23, 2004 see Ephesians 1:17-23; Luke 24:46-53 <
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