Homily: "ASCENSION OF THE LORD" - YEAR A - Theme: “He Ascended… Yet He Remains With Us” - Scripture Readings: 1st Reading: Acts 1:1–11; Responsorial Psalm 47; 2nd Reading: Ephesians 1:17–23; Gospel: Matthew 28:16–20.
ASCENSION OF THE LORD
YEAR A
Theme: “He Ascended… Yet He Remains With Us”
Scripture Readings: 1st Reading: Acts
1:1–11; Responsorial Psalm 47; 2nd Reading: Ephesians 1:17–23; Gospel:
Matthew 28:16–20
1. Introduction – A Mystery That Seems Like a
Departure
My dear
brothers and sisters,
At first
glance, the Ascension of the Lord looks like a farewell.
Jesus
rises… disappears into the clouds… and leaves the disciples behind.
It feels
like:
- a separation
- a loss
- an ending
But the
Church teaches us something deeper:
👉 The
Ascension is not the absence of Christ… but the transformation of His presence.
He is no
longer limited:
- by place
- by time
- by physical form
Now He
becomes:
- universally present
- spiritually active
- mystically powerful in His Church
👉 The
Ascension is not “Jesus leaving” …
👉 It is Jesus entering a new way of being with us.
✍️ Dr.
Addanki Raju – Original Spiritual Insights
“The
Ascension is not Christ leaving the earth; it is Christ entrusting the earth to
us.”
“He
ascended not to distance Himself from humanity, but to dwell within every
believing heart.”
“The sky
did not receive Him to remove Him from us, but to remind us that our mission
now begins.”
2. Biblical Foundation – A Unified Revelation
Today’s
three readings are not separate messages.
They form one continuous revelation:
Acts:
👉 Jesus
ascends and promises power
Ephesians:
👉 Jesus is
enthroned in glory above all powers
Matthew:
👉 Jesus
sends us on a mission and promises His presence
👉 Together
they answer three questions:
- Where is Jesus now?
- What is He doing now?
- What must we do now?
3. First Reading: Acts 1:1–11
“Why are you standing there looking at the sky?”
3.1. The Last Instruction of Jesus
Jesus tells
them:
👉 “Wait for
the promise of the Father.”
Before the mission,
there must be:
- waiting
- preparation
- openness
👉 Mission
without the Spirit becomes human effort.
3.2. The Misunderstanding of the Disciples
They ask:
👉 “Lord,
will you restore the kingdom of Israel now?”
They are
still thinking:
- politically
- territorially
- narrowly
But Jesus
redirects them:
👉 “You will
receive power… and be my witnesses.”
3.3. Ascension – A Theological Meaning
The
Ascension is not a “physical travel” upward.
It means:
- Jesus enters the glory of the Father
- He is enthroned as Lord
- He completes His earthly mission
👉 “Cloud” in
Scripture = Divine presence
3.4. The Angels’ Message – A Wake-Up Call
👉 “Why are
you standing there looking at the sky?”
This is
very important.
Jesus is
saying:
❌ Do not remain:
- passive
- nostalgic
- inactive
✅ Move into:
- mission
- responsibility
- witness
👉
Christianity is not sky-gazing…
👉 It is earth-transforming action.
✍️ Dr. Addanki Raju – Poetic Reflection
“The Rising Lord”
He rose
beyond the clouds of sight,
Yet fills our hearts with living light;
Not gone, but nearer than before,
He walks with us forevermore.
4. Responsorial Psalm 47 – The Joy of the King
“God mounts His throne with shouts of joy”
This Psalm
explains the Ascension in liturgical language.
Key Themes:
- God is King over all the earth
- He reigns with power and joy
- He is enthroned above all nations
👉 The
Ascension is:
- not silent
- not sad
👉 It is:
- a celebration
- a victory
- a coronation
Spiritual Insight
When Christ
ascends:
👉 Humanity
itself is lifted into God.
In Jesus:
- our nature
- our struggles
- our destiny
👉 are taken
into divine glory.
5. Second Reading: Ephesians 1:17–23
“Seated Him at His right hand in heaven”
This is one
of the deepest theological texts about the Ascension.
5.1. The Prayer for Enlightenment
Paul prays:
👉 “May the
eyes of your heart be enlightened.”
Because
this mystery:
- cannot be understood only intellectually
- must be grasped spiritually
5.2. Three Gifts of Understanding
Paul asks
that we know:
- The hope of His call
- The riches of His inheritance
- The greatness of His power
5.3. Christ’s Exaltation
God raised
Jesus and placed Him:
- above all rulers
- above all authorities
- above every name
👉 This
means:
No power:
- political
- social
- spiritual
👉 is above
Christ.
5.4. Christ as Head of the Church
👉 “He put
all things under His feet and gave Him as head over the Church.”
This is
crucial:
👉 The
Ascended Christ is still connected to us.
The Church
is:
- not an organisation
- not a human institution
👉 It is the
Body of Christ
And Christ
is:
👉 the living Head
5.5. Theological Depth
The
Ascension reveals:
👉 Jesus is
not absent
👉 He is cosmically present
He fills:
- the universe
- the Church
- every believer
✍️ Dr. Addanki Raju – Original Spiritual
Insights
“The Ascended Lord reigns above all, so that His disciples may stand
fearless before all.”
“He took
His throne in heaven, so that we may take our place in His mission on earth.”
“The
authority of Christ is not for domination, but for sending ordinary people into
extraordinary witness.”
6. Gospel: Matthew 28:16–20
“The Ascended Lord Entrusts the Mission”
6.1. The Journey to Galilee – A Return to the Beginning
The Gospel
begins:
👉 “The
eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered
them.”
This is
deeply symbolic.
Why Galilee?
- It is where their call began
- It is where ordinary life happens
- It is not Jerusalem (the religious
center), but a peripheral place
👉 The
message is powerful:
Christ
sends His mission not from:
- the center of power
- the place of prestige
But from:
👉 the place of daily life
Spiritual Insight
Your
Galilee is:
- your family
- your village
- your workplace
- your society
👉 Mission
does not begin in extraordinary places.
👉 It begins where you are.
6.2. The Mountain – Place of Revelation
Matthew
says:
👉 “They went
to the mountain.”
In this
Gospel, mountains are sacred spaces:
- Sermon on the Mount → Teaching
- Transfiguration → Glory
- Now → Mission
👉 The
Ascension moment is a moment of revelation and commissioning.
Theological Meaning
The
mountain represents:
- closeness to God
- clarity of vision
- divine encounter
👉 Before
mission, there must be encounter.
6.3. Worship and Doubt – The Reality of Faith
👉 “When they
saw Him, they worshipped; but some doubted.”
This line
is extremely important for Sunday preaching.
Even after:
- resurrection
- appearances
- miracles
👉 Some still
doubted.
Deep Reflection
Faith is
not:
- perfect certainty
- emotional excitement
👉 Faith is a
journey that includes:
- questions
- struggles
- uncertainties
Pastoral Insight
Jesus does
not say:
❌ “First remove your doubts,
then I will send you.”
Instead:
👉 He sends
them with their doubts.
👉 This gives
hope to all people:
- those struggling in faith
- those confused
- those weak
👉 God uses
imperfect people for a perfect mission.
6.4. The Authority of Christ – Cosmic Lordship
👉 “All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
This is a huge
theological statement.
Meaning of Authority
This
authority includes:
- authority over life and death
- authority over sin
- authority over history
- authority over the universe
Connection with the Ascension
This
fulfills what we heard in Ephesians:
👉 Christ is:
- above every power
- above every name
- Lord of all creation
Application
👉 Our
mission is not weak or uncertain.
We are not
going:
- in our own strength
- in our own name
👉 We go in
the authority of Christ.
6.5. The Command – “Go”
👉 “Go
therefore…”
Christianity
is a movement, not a comfort zone.
Important Shift
Not:
❌ Come and sit
❌ Come and listen only
But:
👉 GO
👉 MOVE
👉 REACH OUT
Spiritual Challenge
Many
Christians today:
- remain inside
- avoid responsibility
- limit faith to rituals
👉 The
Ascension breaks this mentality.
6.6. Make Disciples – Not Just Believers
👉 “Make
disciples of all nations.”
This is
deeper than conversion.
Difference
Believer:
- knows about Jesus
Disciple:
- follows Jesus
- lives like Jesus
- imitates Jesus
Global Vision
👉 “All
nations”
This means:
- no caste
- no religion barrier
- no cultural limitation
👉 The Gospel
is for everyone.
6.7. The Threefold Mission
Jesus gives
a clear structure:
1. Go
Reach out
2. Baptize
Bring into
relationship with the Trinity
3. Teach
Form and
guide life
Deep Insight
Mission is
not:
- emotional preaching only
- one-time conversion
👉 It is:
- formation
- transformation
- lifelong journey
6.8. The Trinity in Mission
👉 “In the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”
This shows:
👉 Mission is
Trinitarian
- The Father sends
- The Son saves
- The Spirit empowers
👉 When we
baptize, we bring people into:
- divine relationship
- divine life
6.9. Teaching – Living the Commandments
👉 “Teaching
them to observe all that I have commanded you”
Not just:
- knowing
- hearing
But:
👉 observing
👉 living
Practical Meaning
- Love enemies
- Forgive
- Serve
- Live truthfully
👉
Christianity is not theory…
👉 It is lifestyle.
6.10. The Greatest Promise – “I Am With You”
This is the
heart of the Gospel.
👉 “I am with
you always, until the end of the age.”
The Great Mystery
He ascends…
Yet He says:
👉 “I am with
you.”
How is He with us?
- In the Word
- In the Sacraments
- In the Church
- In the poor
- In our hearts
👉 This is
the key to the Ascension:
❌ Not absence
✅ New Presence
6.11. Deep Theological Synthesis
Let us
understand this clearly:
- Jesus goes up → Ascension
- Jesus remains → Presence
- Jesus sends → Mission
👉 The
Ascension is not:
❌ “Goodbye”
👉 It is:
✅ “Now you continue My work.”
At the
beginning of Matthew’s Gospel:
👉 “Emmanuel
– God with us”
At the end:
👉 “I am with
you always”
👉 The entire
Gospel is framed with this truth:
God is
always with His people.
Illustration
A teacher
trains students for years.
Finally, the teacher leaves the classroom.
Not
because:
- he has abandoned them
But
because:
👉 they are now ready to act
👉 The
Ascension is like that.
Christ
says:
👉 “Now go…
continue what I began.”
6.12. Final Challenge from the Gospel
Ask
yourself:
- Am I still standing and watching?
- Or am I going and witnessing?
👉 The
Ascended Christ is asking:
👉 “Will you
continue My mission?”
✍️ Dr. Addanki Raju – Poetic Reflection
“Mission Begins”
They
watched Him rise in silent awe,
But heard His call, His final law;
Not stand and stare, but go and be
His hands, His voice, for all to see.
7. Theological Integration
Let us
bring all readings together:
Acts:
👉 Mission
begins
Ephesians:
👉 Christ
reigns
Matthew:
👉 Church is
sent
Psalm:
👉 Heaven
rejoices
👉 The
Ascension means:
- Christ reigns above
- Spirit works within
- Church acts on earth
8. Spiritual Diagnosis
Today, many
Christians live like:
- Jesus is absent
- faith is weak
- mission is optional
We:
- pray but do not witness
- believe but do not act
- wait but do not move
👉 The angels
ask us today:
👉 “Why are
you still standing and looking?”
9. Illustration
A king once
left his kingdom and entrusted it to his servants.
Some
servants:
- waited for his return
- did nothing
Others:
- worked
- built
- expanded
When the
king returned:
👉 He
rewarded not those who waited…
👉 but those who worked.
👉 The
Ascension is not a call to wait…
👉 It is a call to act.
✍️ Dr. Addanki Raju – Original Spiritual
Insights
“The
mystery of the Ascension is this: He went away from our sight, but never from
our life.”
“Christ
ascended in glory, but He remains hidden in every act of love and service.”
“The Lord
who disappeared into the clouds now appears in the courage of His disciples.”
10. Saints’ Voice
“Christ has
no body now but yours.”
— Saint Teresa of Avila
👉 This is
the Ascension mystery.
Christ
works through:
- your hands
- your words
- your life
11. Practical Applications
11.1. Move from Passive Faith to Active Mission
Do not just
attend…
👉 participate
11.2. Live with Awareness of Christ’s Presence
He is:
- with you in work
- with you in suffering
- with you in decisions
11.3. Become a Witness
Not by
preaching only
👉 but by living
11.4. Trust in His Authority
No fear
No insecurity
👉 Christ is
Lord over all
12. The Echo and Take-Home Message
👉 “He ascended… not to leave us… but to lead us.”
👉 “He went to heaven… to bring heaven into us.”
👉 “He left physically… but remains spiritually.”
👉 “He entrusted the mission… to you and me.”
👉 “Do not look at the sky… go and change the earth.”
✍️ Dr. Addanki Raju – Poetic Reflection
“Presence Beyond Sight”
No longer
seen by human eyes,
Yet present still in hidden guise;
In every soul that dares to live,
The Ascended Christ continues to give.
13. Conclusion – A Final Challenge
One day:
- we too will stand before God
- we too will give an account
The
question will not be:
❌ “Did you believe?”
But:
👉 “Did you
witness?”
Do not
live:
- watching
- waiting
- postponing
Live:
- witnessing
- serving
- transforming
👉 The
Ascension is not the end of Jesus’ work…
👉 It is the beginning of our work.
14. Prayer
Lord Jesus
Christ,
You ascended into glory, yet remain with us always.
Open the
eyes of our hearts,
that we may see Your presence in our lives.
Give us
courage to go into the world,
to witness, to serve, and to transform.
Fill us
with Your Spirit,
that we may not stand idle,
but become Your living mission on earth.
Amen.
Homilies by Dr.
ADDANKI RAJU.
Blogger:
https://addankiraju.blogspot.com
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