Homily For Thursday Sixth Week of Easter Year C, The Solemnity of Ascension. 29th May, 2025

 

Readings: Acts1:1-11; Ps. 47; Eph. 1:17-23; Luke 24:46-53

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING THE MYSTERIES OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD 

The Joy of the risen Lord has filled the hearts of his disciples as they experienced his physical presence for the past forty days after his death and resurrection. So on the occasion of today, the Lord Jesus, in the presence of his disciples, physically ascended into heaven as they watched him taken away in the cloud to return to his heavenly Throne, triumphant and victorious.

This, no doubt was a moment of great hope for them as they wished to be with him for eternity. However, they have a mission to accomplish; they are to bear witness to the events testify about it on their missions and pass it down as a true hope for humanity.

Thus, the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is a mystery that reminds us of that great moment of hope when the Lord triumphs victoriously and is no longer physically present among his disciples and followers, as they can no longer directly see him or touch him as they had been during all the while he was physically present with them. 

But this does not mean that the Lord has abandoned or left his disciples; rather, he has gone to fulfil his promise of preparing a place for his faithful disciples and will also send a great Helper to assist them.

Therefore, the feast of the Ascension of the Lord does not mean that Jesus has departed to some place far from people and from the world. Rather it means that he no longer belongs to the world conditioned by the life of space and time, corruption and death, as he now belongs entirely to God as the eternal Son, who has purified the filthiness of humanity. 

Hence, the Lord raised us into God’s presence by taking with him our flesh and blood in its transfigured form and presenting humanity to God the Father. This is the Mystery of the ascension we are celebrating today. It is a thing of great hope and joy for all who believe in him. It is the mystery of this great joy and hope that we celebrate today. An event that shows that humanity has been introduced into the very life of God. 

Hence, from the readings of today, we have the details of this great event and the last instructions of Jesus to his disciples. In the first reading, before the Ascension, Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth. As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight.’ 

In the Gospel passage, Jesus instructs his disciples, saying; you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this. 

Now lifting up his hands he blessed them, and he withdrew from them and was carried up to heaven. In addition, St. Paul, in the second reading, says: ‘He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation’.

Dear friends, the occasion of the Ascension of the Lord is a confirmation of the reality of heaven, which reminds us that God has always been faithful and loving as he fulfils his covenants and promises to humanity. It reminds us of our mission to evangelize the world, to give hope to humanity by letting them know that human hope and life are beyond the boundaries of this passing world.  

It reminds us that God will always be with us no matter what we are going through in this world, for he will always provide for us and care for us at all times. Hence, we must have faith in him no matter how challenging and difficult the situation in our lives may be; we must have hope and trust in God that, in the end, everything will be fine. 

Let us hold on to the Lord for this occasion is indeed a great time for us to recall the hope that we found in Jesus' triumphant victory over evil, sin and condemnation. Let us celebrate the greatest hope that God has given to humanity by letting us share in the very Life of the Trinity. 

The hope is that humanity will one day be united body and soul with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. A confirmation of the reality of heaven, for this is the central message of the event and mystery of the Ascension that gives great joy and hope to all who believe, which, as disciples, we are called to bear witness to the world. 

Therefore, let us share this great hope with the people of the world by letting the light of Christ in us illuminate the darkness and ignorance in the world. Let us share this hope through our words, actions and deeds. Let our presence bring hope and encouragement, not hatred and division. Let our actions bring healing and succour in hopeless situations. Let our deeds inspire humanity to come to know God and embrace the victory Jesus has won for us. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, let this solemnity of the Lord’s Ascension, enkindle in us the passion to love you more dearly and to spread in the world the Joy and hope we have found in Jesus. Let this Joy and hope bring healing, succour, strength and courage that will help us to overcome the ugly and hopeless situations in our lives, families, societies and the world at large. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.