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( 1st June 2025) Homily for the Seventh Sunday of Easter

(Ascension Sunday)

READ: (Acts 1:1-11; Eph 1: 17-23; Lk 24: 46-53)

REFLECT: Accomplishment, assurance and accompaniment…

My dear friends, today along with the holy mother the church we celebrate the ascension of the Lord. Jesus after the resurrection, appears to his disciples in many ways to strengthen them and gives them the courage to proclaim the good news of salvation and goodness of God. We know that Jesus now ascends to his heavenly father after forty days of his resurrection. The ascension of Jesus prefigures our ascension too, that we also one day be lifted up from the earth to be part of the heavenly banquet that God has prepared for all. So based on the liturgy of the word, I would like to share with you three points of reflection on the accomplishment of Jesus’ mission, Jesus’ assurance of eternal life for us and Jesus’ accompaniment with is in and through the Holy Spirit.

1. Ascension is Jesus’ Accomplishment:

We all of us know what it means to accomplish.  It is an achievement of a task given. We all of us are born to accomplish in life in one way or the other. That is the purpose of life and that is the prize that we give to others and ourselves by the life that we live on earth. Jesus too was born for the same. But his accomplishment compared to ours was totally different but divine, because Jesus’ accomplishment had divine origin and divine end. It was not an earthly accomplishment but heavenly, not worldly but godly that Jesus came to earth to fulfill the mission of God. The mission was to bring back the lost sheep back to the fold of God by living, suffering, dying and resurrecting. After having accomplished the given task now Jesus gets back to the father from where he came. Jesus returns to the Father by ascending into heaven.

Very beautifully Pope Francis says, there is none of the usual feeling or loss or abandonment among the disciples when Jesus ascended into heaven. Instead despite their separation from the Lord, the do not appear grief-stricken, but rather joyful and ready to go into the world as missionaries. Why the disciples are not sad? Why should we too rejoice at seeing Jesus ascend into heave? Pope Francis says, the ascension completes Jesus’ mission among us. Yes Jesus completes the mission of God entrusted and so after the accomplishment of Jesus’ mission on earth and moves to heaven. This is what the ascension of our Lord invites us that we to know the purpose of our creation and living on earth and accomplish them by the grace of God.

Today we need to know and understand what my God-given mission is and for these great efforts we need to spend time in prayer or quiet reflection, asking God to reveal His plan for our life. We need to work toward eternal goals and not earthly ones, because most of the times our accomplishments we chase are centered on status, success, and comfort and not on love, service, and faithfulness to God. So in what way we could continue Jesus’ mission today is what we need to realize. Jesus passed the mission on to His disciples and it has been entrusted to us right now. So we have to know where God is sending me to share love, truth and goodness. Thus, take a concrete action to reach out to someone in need, volunteer, or share your faith in a simple, kind way.

Today, Let us examine our habits, relationships, and use of time and how they lead us closer to God. Just as the disciples were not paralyzed by Jesus’ departure and moved forward to participate in the accomplishments of Jesus to accomplish God’s will, so also we need to move towards the heavenly home by the grace and blessings of God.

2. Ascension is Jesus’ Assurance:

Assurance is nothing but a positive declaration intended to give confidence and a promise of something. We assure people in various ways and at different points of time. Why do we assure them? It is because they need or want it as a help and support, strength and source of Joy. We know Jesus assured many things to people during his times because they needed it the most in life. Till today, Jesus assures us that salvation is for everyone and eternal life is to everyone who seeks and believes in God Father. The similar note of reference we find in the second reading from the Acts of the Apostles. 

Jesus commands them to be witnesses of the entire earth and not only to limit the restoration of the kingdom to Israel, because it is God who decides and directs our lives. The salvific act of God reaches to the ends of the earth. It is not only Jews or Gentiles, not only slaves or free but for all. Jesus assures them of salvation to the ends of the earth. And a second assurance is this just as Jesus is taken up to heaven so also we would be lifted from the earth. Yes, the assurance of God for salvation of us all is without exclusivism and the assurance of eternal life for everyone to be in heaven is sure. So let us give the same assurance to all that Jesus will redeem all and give us all eternal life, provided we believe and take heart in him.

In the gospel reading of the day we hear too, after Jesus being lifted from the earth to heaven, the apostles and disciples returned with great joy and were continually in the temple blessing God.. Why that joy and what was that joy. The joy is because they have understood that Jesus is risen and ascended to the heavenly Father to intercede for us and to prepare our heavenly home. The joy is because of the assurance that Jesus has given to the disciples. Today we need to realize that assurance is required for us to be Messengers of Hope. Just as Jesus assured His followers of salvation and eternal life, we are called to bring that same assurance to others. We need as well be attentive to those around us who feel hopeless, anxious, or unworthy. A kind word or gesture can remind them that they are not alone and that God's love is for them too. We should take to heart to give a sort of spiritual encouragement as a lifestyle that is to affirm others in their faith, especially when they’re struggling and striving in faith that we profess or practice.

Today, let us understand that eternal life is our destination and for that we need to live with the purpose now. So living in a way that aligns with your faith, values, and future in God is the need of the hour. We need to believe and go out in preaching that we are not passive observers of the encounter of risen Jesus; rather we are witnesses filled with optimism and courage to proclaim the good news that God continues to be with us and he assures us of his ever-living presence. So it is an opportunity as Christians to share our faith when appropriate and appreciate others to be authentic witnesses of God to tell them how Christ’s assurance has given us peace or direction. Let us then, when we are uncertain or impatient, remind ourselves that God is working even when we can’t see it, because he lives and assures us of his presence.

3. Ascension is Jesus’ Accompaniment:

We all know that accompaniment means in solidarity with, to share or to walk with. It is to give company or be a companion to another. We have companions and we know the importance.  They are always with us and share with us and make us happy and healthy. Similarly accompaniment is given to us today by Jesus as he ascends to heaven. That’s what we hear in the gospel reading of the day; I am sending you the promise of the father and remain until you are clothed in the spirit, the power from on high. Jesus gives us as his parting gift the Holy Spirit to be with us, to animate and to accompany us. Therefore the presence of God will continue in and through the spirit of God.

That’s what pope Francis would say that we need to be joyful because Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit. He promises the Holy Spirit in order to go out and evangelize. Yes we need the Holy Spirit always for evangelization and for enlightenment of life. Today just as Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to accompany us and make our lives joyful, we also need to give the Holy Spirit to one another by the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. So that, we may become participants in the ascension of the Lord and proclaim that Jesus is ascended to heaven to prepare a heavenly home with God the Father for a heavenly bliss.

On this day of ascension we need to empower ourselves that Jesus’ Ascension is not his absence but rather his presence continues through the presence of the Holy Spirit he promises us. Though Jesus physically ascends, He remains with us through the Holy Spirit. Let us inculcate in us to practice daily the awareness of the Holy Spirit and seek his presence in every activity that we begin and end. Today, we need to believe and understand that the Holy Spirit is given to us for the mission of God and not just for our comfort and convenience. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live and share the Gospel.

As we all know that accompaniment means being present for others, we need to be present for others in times of discomfort and discouragement, to those who support truth and stand for justice; we need to be ardent supporters and promoters. Just as the Holy Spirit accompanies us, we are called to be present to others in their joys and struggles. Perhaps, we could offer emotional and spiritual companionship. Send a message, call someone lonely or discouraged or accompany someone in need especially the sick and the suffering. All these could be possible if we bear the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, so that the Spirit of God may transform us so as to transform the world for goodness. Let us realize the presence of the Holy Spirit in our families, communities and societies where we live. So my dear friends today, let us pray that this ascension of our Lord helps us to accomplish our purpose on earth, assure for one another eternal life and salvation, and accompany ourselves with the Holy Spirit for evangelization and enrichment of God’s word in our lives.

RESPOND:

Do we accomplish God’s will in our lives by the presence of God?

Do we believe in the assurance of God’s word and his presence in our lives?

Do we allow the Holy Spirit to accompany our lives to be authentic followers of Christ?

Let us accomplish God’s will, be assured of God’s presence and allow the Holy Spirit to accompany our lives. Amen.

God bless us all! Live Jesus!