🙏 SUNDAY INSIGHTS - THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD 🙏

First Reading - Acts 1:1-11

Second Reading - Hebrews 9:24-28,10:19-23

Gospel - Luke 24:46-53

There is something deep within each of us that longs for home. Whether we admit it or not, we carry a yearning for a place where we are fully known, fully loved, and finally at rest. Today’s solemn celebration of the Ascension speaks powerfully to that yearning—it tells us that our true home is not here but with God, and that Jesus, having completed His mission, now returns to the Father to prepare a place for us.

The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles gives us the scene of the Ascension. The disciples stand there, eyes fixed on the skies, watching their Master rise beyond their sight. It’s a moment of awe, mystery, and perhaps confusion. Jesus had risen from the dead and spent forty days with them, teaching and strengthening their faith. Now, He leaves—not to abandon them, but to return to the Father, completing His journey. The angels gently remind the disciples: “Why are you standing there looking up into the sky?” This is not the end; this is a new beginning. They are not to cling to the moment but to prepare for the mission Jesus entrusted to them—to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. The Ascension is not a farewell; it is a commissioning.

The second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews deepens our understanding of what Jesus has accomplished. He has entered the true sanctuary—not made by human hands—but heaven itself, where He intercedes for us before the Father. Jesus is not distant or passive in heaven; He is active on our behalf, our great high priest. His sacrifice was once and for all, securing for us not just forgiveness, but confidence to draw near to God. Because of Him, we now have hope as a sure anchor for our souls. His Ascension is the guarantee that where He is, we too are meant to be. He has gone before us, and we are meant to follow.

In the Gospel, we hear Jesus’ final words to His disciples. They are not words of parting sorrow, but of purpose and blessing. He opens their minds to understand the Scriptures, He reminds them that the mission must go on—that repentance and forgiveness are to be preached in His name to all nations. Then, He blesses them, not just with words, but with the gift of His presence that will come in a new way—the Holy Spirit. As He ascends, they are not left behind in despair. In fact, they return to Jerusalem not in mourning, but in joy. They now understand: His departure is not an absence, but a new form of presence. His mission is now their mission.

Dear friends, the Ascension is not a celebration of Jesus leaving us behind. It is a powerful sign that we are meant for more. Christ goes ahead of us to heaven to show us where we truly belong. In this world, we often feel like exiles, struggling with pain, uncertainty, and the sense that something is missing. The Ascension lifts our eyes beyond our daily trials and reminds us that our lives are part of a much bigger story. It invites us to live not as those who are lost, but as those who know where they are going.

But until that day comes, we are not to stand idly, looking to the skies. We are called to be witnesses—to bring Christ into our families, our workplaces, our communities. We are called to live with hope and to help others find their way home. We may not see Him as the disciples once did, but through our faith, through the sacraments, and through our love, He remains with us.

So let us not be discouraged by the weight of the world. Let us not lose heart when life feels heavy. Jesus is with the Father—and we are with Him. Our place is with Him, and He is preparing it for us. Until then, let us live with confidence, let us share the Good News, and let us trust that the same Jesus who was taken up into heaven will return in glory.

May our hearts always remain anchored in this hope.