In the Ascension Day gospel there is a sentence we might consider. Obviously in one of his post-Resurrection appearances, Jesus ordered his eleven apostles to a mountain top in Galilee. When they arrived there, Jesus was present to them again. As Matthew the Evangelist wrote, "When they saw him" on the mountain, "they worshiped, but they doubted" (28:16).Might we not ascribe the sentiment of one of those present to ourselves in our world today? Even those who faithfully worship God can be brought to recognize that often they forget or fail to accept a core belief of our faith: our lives rest in God's hands. Too often we do not fully assent to the reality that we have nothing to fear because God is always with us.
A friend, Jesuit Father Andy Alexander, in true Jesuit inquisitiveness, puts a challenge before his readers: (1) "list the ways I show signs of living the joy and hope of the resurrection." Think about that for a moment. How many ways come to mind? ..... Now that you have struggled with the little quiz let me give you the second part: (2) "now list the ways I show that I am upset, disturbed, impatient, frustrated, angry at the people, situations circumstances around me." Again think about that ... but we have only a few minutes ... because I am sure that list would be much longer.
If you were like me listing my responses in my mind, you probably realized that the smallest of things can create a different me more easily and quickly than the joy and hope offered to us by Jesus through his Resurrection!
So what is the lesson for us? The freedom of the Resurrection, indeed the liberation spelled out for us in the life of Jesus and the gospel may be liberally given to us but for us to fully enjoy or partake of his message his promise to be with us at all times, evening following his Ascension, takes an amazing grace. No matter how devoted or devotional we might be, our world, our culture, our previous sinfulness work together to impede the graces that should capture our hearts and give us the drive to live with a realization that the gospel of Jesus is an immense treasure house for us.
Again considering Fr. Alexander's insights , his guiding us into a few moments of self-awareness, we should not feel ashamed or guilty if one of our lists was much longer than the other. This reflection should help us just as Jesus' appearance to the two Emmaus-bound disciples after his death. They were promised a new power, a new dynamism, if they returned to Jerusalem. "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you" and then he promised them "you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem."
And that is where we are --- just several days before we celebrate Pentecost Sunday. Next weekend we renew the gift of Jesus and the Father to each of us --- a new dynamic thrust to our faith, our lives. My sisters and brothers, the Holy Spirit graces us with power beyond anything we can imagine to live out the Ascension mandate: "go and make disciples of all nations ... teaching them "to observe all I have commended you." And that, folks, is the incredible gift and call we have received from the Father. That is his call to bring us from doubt to praise and the full life of discipleship.
