Today, in many parts of the world, we are celebrating the Ascension of the Lord. The gospel today, recounts the story of the eleven disciples who went to the mountain in Galilee, just like Jesus had commanded them to do. The gospel reading says that the disciples worshiped Jesus when they saw him. That is quite a change in their behavior from the past. In the past, they related to Jesus more like a friend or a teacher, but the whole tone of how they related to Jesus changed when they saw him on the mountain. We would do well to remember this too. Most of us relate to Jesus as a friend too, in our prayers and daily life. He’s there when we need someone to talk to, and share our joys and our sorrows. When we go to mass though, Jesus becomes our Lord and Savior, and we really should show him reverence anytime we encounter his presence in the Eucharist, whether that is at mass or at adoration, and teach our children to do so as well.
The gospel also says that the disciples doubted Christ (even after all he did, by appearing to them many times after his death). It makes you wonder why they didn’t get it, that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and he told them he was actually a part of God Himself, (in what we now know as the Trinity). Jesus’ kingdom was not of this earth, but they were still wishing it was, according to today’s first reading for mass, when they remembered asking Jesus, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” All of their doubts were not cleared completely, until after they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost though. Jesus understood that his appearance on earth was breaking new ground with human beings in general, and that was why he sent the Holy Spirit to strengthen their faith to proclaim him to the world, without doubts. He said:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Didn’t the first reading today contain a beautiful account of the two angels that appeared after Jesus ascended into heaven? It’s interesting that this verse in the scriptures describe the two angels as men dressed in white garments. The disciples were men though, it would make sense that the angels would appear as men to them. Actually, the angels are always described as men in the bible. There is not a single instance of female angels in the bible, nor are the angels, the Trinity, or God himself ever referred to as anything but male. This is not to slight females, but the male figure in the past represented authority in ancient cultures. There is a splinter in the Catholic church today, that lobbies for women to be ordained as priests in the church, but even today men are viewed as figures of authority and leadership. In the United States there has never been a female president either and perhaps it is still for this reason too. Jesus Christ was a man and the priest stands “in persona” (or in the person of) Christ. The Catholic church uses many visual symbols and other visual elements to teach the faith too.
But, the main point of today’s gospel is Jesus’ words, which we really can’t add to:
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
As a side note, you may not be aware that the Catholic church recognizes all Protestant baptisms as being valid, as long as the person was baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. There are a few Protestant religions though, that only baptize “in the name of Jesus” and we do not consider them to be valid baptisms because of this verse in scripture.
We are a royal priesthood though, even the laity. A lay person is authorized to baptize a person, in imminent danger of death and it is a valid baptism. Sometimes a person accepts Christ at the very last moments of their life and a priest is often not present when this happens. It is also possible that a baby is born, that will only live for a few minutes or hours, and it is a valid baptism if a lay person baptizes them if a priest can not come in time. And on the battlefield, a dying soldier might ask for baptism when only a fellow soldier is present. This baptism is valid as well. Unless it is a person in danger of death though, a priest should baptize all of those who request baptism in the Catholic church, because it really is a communal celebration. One that we are all privileged to witness, and to welcome the new members of our parish communities.
Jesus ended the gospel today with these words and they are a good thought for today as well:
“Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
And he is, most especially in the Eucharist that we celebrated at mass today.
Today’s prayer from mass was:
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that we, who believe that your Only Begotten Son,
our Redeemer,
ascended this day to the heavens,
may in spirit dwell already in heavenly realms.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity
of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Sunday Mass Readings:
Acts 1: 12-14 / Psalm 27 / 1 Peter 4: 13-16 / John 17: 1-11a
