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In the Acts of the Apostles
Luke describes the disciples’ last encounter with Jesus. The Lord
instructs them to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit. As
always, they have questions. He tells them, you will receive the Spirit
and then you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth. Suddenly he
was lifted up and taken from their sight. Luke paints the scene so well.
There are the disciples gazing heavenward in awe. What a sight they must
have been when the two messengers interrupted their reverie with the
simplicity of angels. Why are you looking up at the sky? He
will return just as you saw him go.
Do we look that same way to our angels? Are we searching for Jesus in
some heaven up in the sky, instead of here on earth, among the poor and
the suffering? Shouldn't we look for him in our own hearts and in
those around us? Do we recognize our Lord in his scriptures, or in the
sacraments of his Church? Why must we expect him to be somewhere
else when he told us I am with you until the end of the world?
Paul urges the Ephesians to live in a manner worthy of the calling they
and we have received. He means living with humility and gentleness, with
patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve
the unity of the Spirit. Our manner of life is so important because we
have become one body. We are therefore gifts to one another from Christ.
We are given as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to
build up and equip the Church to come to its full maturity and stature
as the body of Christ.
In Mark, Jesus commands his disciples to go out and proclaim the gospel
to every creature. Jesus tells them that great signs will accompany
their faith. They will drive out demons, speak new languages, survive
serpents and poisons, and heal the sick. The full manifestation of
Christ will occur through the ministry of his Church, his mystical body.
Today we celebrate the going forth of Jesus from this world that enabled
him to be ever present in it through his disciples. Just as his death
meant life for his followers, so does his return to the Father mean the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church.
Jesus was and is Emmanuel, God with us! He lives today as ever, in the
ministry and witness of you and me, his disciples right here in this
corner of the earth.
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