Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension, a feast that might at first seem like a farewell — but it is not. No, the Ascension is not the end. It is the beginning of something deeper, wider, and more beautiful. Jesus ascends not to leave us, but to multiply his presence, to be with us always, through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel tells us that before ascending into heaven, Jesus blessed his disciples (Luke 24:50). What tenderness! His final gesture is one of love, of sending, of empowerment. He leaves not with distance, but with a promise: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This is our mission. This is the life of the Church—to witness, not only in words but in our very lives.
Jesus’ Ascension is the moment where he carries our humanity into the heart of the Trinity. He brings our joys, our wounds, our struggles into the very presence of the Father. He goes ahead of us, not as a distant God, but as our Brother, our Friend, our Lord. And while his body rises to heaven, his presence remains, multiplied through the power of the Holy Spirit.
As we go through the Liturgy of the Word today, let us ask ourselves : Do I feel sent? Do I live my baptism as a mission? Each one of us, by virtue of baptism, is a missionary disciple. We do not need to travel far to live this. Be a witness in our family, our workplace, our parish. Let our faith be visible through joy, through forgiveness, through the daily witness of love.
The Church is missionary by nature. Our late Pope Francis had a beautiful explanation on the mission of the Church. He said, “She exists to proclaim Christ—not to proselytise, but to share the Good News of a love that saves. And this mission is not solitary. It is communitarian, always in communion with the Church. Like those first disciples, we wait in prayer, with Mary, for the Holy Spirit who will strengthen us, guide us, and send us forth.”
Let us remember: we are not alone. The Holy Spirit is the soul of mission. He gives us the right word at the right time. He gives courage to the timid, clarity to the confused, and strength to the weak. And where the Spirit is, there is always joy and new life.
Let us lift our eyes to heaven in order to bring Christ’s gaze to the world. May the Ascension not distance us from the earth, but commit us more deeply to it, with hearts full of hope and feet ready to walk. Mary, Queen of the Missions, pray for us. Come, Holy Spirit. Amen.
Father Josekutty Mathew CMF
