A "GLORIOUS" SEPARATION

SOLEMNITY OF THE LORD’S ASCENSION

Acts 1: 1 – 11; Ps. 47; Eph. 1: 17 – 23 or Eph. 4: 1 – 13; Mk. 16: 15 – 20

Separations are never happy moments in life. For teenagers, “break ups” can lead them to failing grades and shifting moods. For couples, divorce or annulment cases are nightmares in their married life. And so it’s true with each and every one of us here, we do not like to experience a death of a loved one because such separation forever changes our life’s cycle. However, the ascension of Jesus Christ is the second glorious mystery. Thus we ask ourselves, how can such separation between Jesus and his chosen friends be a glorious event?

Both our first and gospel readings today speak to us about the ascension of Jesus into heaven. After three years of being together, seeing the wondrous miracles and hearing the powerful words of their Master, now it’s time for them to say goodbye. Initially, Jesus was separated from them during his passion and death. Nevertheless, such grieving turned into joy with his Resurrection. This time it’s a different story – Jesus finally left his earthly life and went back to the place where he truly belonged – his home with his Father in heaven.

However, if we recall Jesus’ words in the Gospel of John, we realize that such separation of Jesus and his disciples is temporary. In last Friday’s Gospel, Jesus told his disciples, “so you also are now in anguish, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” Both our Gospel readings last Monday and Tuesday also reveal to us Jesus’ promise to send an Advocate after he goes back to the Father. Therefore, the ascension of Jesus is not an eternal separation. Rather, it marks the beginning of the age of the Spirit, the Advocate “who will convict the world.”

What then is the meaning of the Lord’s ascension in our lives today? First, it reminds us of our real identity – that we are all children of the one Father and heaven is our final home. Jesus left the earth because his mission to save us is finished. He has to go back to his home. And such mission of Jesus restored our identity as adopted children of the Father. Therefore, we can now reclaim heaven. We can now enter heaven. That is why whatever pain and suffering we may be experiencing at this moment in our lives, let us be reminded that all these are temporary. All these difficulties are not lasting because earth is not our final resting place but heaven, where there is no more wailing and weeping.

Second, the ascension of Jesus highlights the importance of relationships. Yes, Jesus physically left his relationship with his disciples. Nonetheless, he did not leave them orphans. He did not end such relationship which he himself established. Rather, he promised to see them again. And while waiting for his return, he sent them the Advocate. In life, it is a truth that “no man is an island.” Therefore, we need to preserve our genuine and healthy relationships that we have right now. The richest people are not those who own many shopping malls or companies in the world. But those who can still smile despite the poverty because he/she has a family, a brother, a sister, and a friend to lean on. However, there is one relationship in life which we must nurture and preserve so that everything else will take its rightful place – our personal and loving relationship with God. If you have difficulties right now in your human relationships, please check your relationship with God.

And so, in this solemnity of the Lord’s ascension, we are reminded of our real identity – we are children of the one Father and heaven is our home. We are also challenged to preserve our human relationships. But most of all, we must not forget first and foremost our loving relationship with God.

Separations are never happy moments in life. However, there are instances when we need to separate in order for us to grow. A baby has to separate from the womb of her mother after nine months. A child has to leave home in order to gain wisdom in school. A man has to leave his family in order to begin a new one. Thus, separations are necessary. They may not give us happy experiences yet they teach us how to grow and glow in this journey called life. Amen. 

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