Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. In many dioceses around the world, this solemnity, originally celebrated last Thursday, is transferred to the Seventh Sunday of Easter so that more of the faithful may gather together to celebrate and reflect more deeply on its significance in our Christian faith.
John Henry Newman, whom Pope Leo XIV declared the 38th Doctor of the Church on November 1, 2025, beautifully wrote in his meditation on the Ascension: “This is the triumph. Earth rises to heaven. I see Thee going up.” These words profoundly capture the mystery of Christ ascending into heaven after His Resurrection. In the Ascension, humanity itself is lifted up. Jesus does not abandon the world; rather, He opens heaven for us and leads us toward the Father.
The readings today lead us to a deeper understanding of this solemn event in the life of our Lord.
In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear of the Risen Lord being taken up into heaven before the eyes of His disciples. The angels proclaim: “This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen Him going into heaven” (Acts 1:11). The Ascension is not merely the departure of Jesus from the earth. It is the culmination of His saving mission. Christ returns to the Father so that humanity may one day share eternal life with God. What the Apostles witnessed with their eyes, we now embrace through faith and hope.
In the second reading, Paul the Apostle reminds the Ephesians of the marvelous generosity and goodness of God. Through Christ, we have become sharers in His glory. Heaven is no longer a distant dream but our true destiny — the inheritance promised to those who remain faithful to Him.
The gospel taken from the final verses of Matthew the Evangelist, presents the Risen Lord appearing to the eleven disciples on the mountain before His Ascension.
One line in particular always strikes me deeply: “When they saw Him, they worshiped, but they doubted.” It is surprising to hear that even after seeing the Risen Lord, some still doubted. Why would Matthew include this detail?
Perhaps Matthew wanted to reveal the very human response of the Apostles before such an extraordinary mystery. Faith does not always remove every hesitation or uncertainty. It is possible to worship and still struggle to understand fully. The disciples believed in Jesus and adored Him, yet they were still trying to comprehend the fullness of His mission and the meaning of all that had happened.
In many ways, we are like them. There are moments when we believe strongly, and yet questions, fears, and doubts still arise within us. But the beautiful thing is this: Jesus did not reject His disciples because of their weakness. Instead, He entrusted them with His mission.
The Ascension of Jesus gave to the Apostles and through them, to the Church, the mission of bringing the message of salvation to all nations. Through Baptism, we have become members of Christ’s Mystical Body, brothers and sisters in the Lord, and heirs to the promise of heaven.
The Ascension also gives us a clearer vision of our eternal destiny. Our life does not end in death. Our journey is ultimately directed toward eternal communion with God. Christ ascended before us so that we may follow Him one day into everlasting joy and friendship with the Father.
To believe in the Ascension is to believe that heaven is real, that our lives have an eternal purpose, and that one day we too are called to share in the glory of the Risen Christ. This inheritance is imperishable, undefiled, and eternal.
At the same time, the Ascension inspires us to continue the mission entrusted to the Church. Jesus commands His disciples: “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” (Matthew 28:19).
Through Baptism, we are called not only to believe but also to witness. Our lives should encourage others to encounter Christ, to rediscover faith, and to open their hearts to the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Augustine of Hippo once said: “Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord.” These words beautifully express the meaning of the Ascension. To lift up our hearts is to anchor our hope in God and not merely in the passing realities of this world.
The Ascension of Jesus is a consoling promise — not only for the disciples long ago, but for every generation of believers. We do not need to deny the darkness, struggles, or uncertainties of life. Yet even in the darkest moments, we are assured that we are never abandoned. Christ has gone before us, and He remains with us.
As we celebrate this Solemnity of the Ascension, may we bear witness to the gift of salvation entrusted to us. May we continue the mission of proclaiming the Good News with courage and fidelity.
And as we journey through a world filled with distractions, confusion, and uncertainty, may we remember that hesitation and doubt can be part of the human experience. Yet the Lord still calls us, just as He called the Apostles, to continue His ministry with courage and hope, trusting in the promise of the Holy Spirit who strengthens and guides the Church in every age.
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, OSA
