We often harbor the illusion that if only we were able to see the Risen Jesus with our own eyes, we would be firm believers, we would be at home. The reading from the gospel of Matthew should cause us to pause and reflect. As the eleven gather on the mountain in Galilee and catch sight of Jesus, the gospel relates: “When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.” They actually see him, they know he is alive, yet their faith is not as firm as we might have imagined.
Then are St. Paul’s words in his letter to the Ephesians when he prays; “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call.”St. Paul reveals that there is a different kind of seeing, leading to a deeper kind of knowing. The inner heart has “eyes” that see, a gift of the “Spirit of wisdom and revelation.” These eyes give sure knowledge of the hope that is ours, the hope of sharing in the glory that is our destiny and our home.
We who live in the post-Pentecost times have all been enlightened through that one Holy Spirit. We possess the new eyes and the certain hope that the Eleven had yet to discover when they gathered on the mountain top. Are we aware that all of us already possess these inner eyes? If so, are we experiencing those inner eyes or have they become atrophied, that is have we let our spiritual life waste away? Do we claim the hope that is ours? On this Ascension Day, let us make St. Paul’s prayer our own: “Lord God, enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know the hope that is ours, that we may find our home.”
In a way, Jesus ascended into His home in heaven. As I was reflecting on His homecoming, I was thinking about all those who have come home. Especially last weekend as we remembered all those who have lost their lives in the service to their country and the sacrifice of their family members and also those who have served and are now serving, I remembered my own coming home from the war in Vietnam. I remember noticing all that had changed and that which did not. But what I remembered the most is the love shared with family and friends. Jesus so loved us that he left His Spirit to be with us. Even though he ascended to His home, he never left us because of that bond of love and because His home was also on earth.
A trip home allows us to find connection with anything new yet relevant towards maintaining and strengthening bonds with the people dear and treasured. Even though Jesus ascended into heaven He most likely found nothing changed in the Kingdom except himself who returned the resurrected Lord, human but still fully divine, he who went through death but is the fullness of life itself.
It is a basic human longing to be with family and friends and to remain a part of them wherever seasons and situations may take us. The hard part is the longing to be with them again, despite a new life of discoveries and a life journey that helps us define who we really are.
In spite of all the sophistication of communication technologies like e-mail, twitter, face-book, I-phones, virtual reality is still unable to replace actual reality, even though some try. Security for us is still attained when our roots and closeness to family and friends run deep despite where we find ourselves in separation from them.
Jesus, through his short time on earth did show us who God created us to be. Jesus also showed us our final homecoming when we will be raised on the last day hopefully into the kingdom of heaven. What a glorious homecoming that will be!!! By his actions on earth, Jesus showed how deep his love is for us. Jesus was a master at this. He dealt with long distance relationships by bridging time and space with an intimacy that knows no bounds and knows no limits.
While Jesus was here on earth, he found a home in the hearts of Mary, Joseph and his faithful disciples. From birth to death he also remained one with the Father in heaven. Just imagine—-Jesus was here on earth over 2,000 years ago and yet He still, even today, finds His home in our hearts and keeps coming home over, and over, and over again.
We find Him home in our liturgies, in the words of scripture, in his body the Church and in the sacraments-especially in Holy Communion where we receive Jesus’ body and blood in the Eucharist. Talking about coming home, wow!!! You know, if Jesus is in our hearts, this gives credence to the saying, “Home is where the heart is.”
I can’t help but think of all those around the world that are living away from home; migrant workers, those displaced by war, violence or abuse, foreign students, missionaries, those displaced by natural disasters, all can say what life is like being away from loved ones. Of course the experience can very.
Regardless of the circumstances and the reason for being away, coming home can be healing, affirming, and fulfilling. Without a home, even if we are successful elsewhere, we are somewhat lost. I hear this very thing when I talk with Catholics who have come back home to the Church. Without the people we could always go back to and who have given us a sense of who we are inside out, there can be no reason for hoping and no hope for the things we aspire for. What would it be like to not have the hope of heaven? I dare to think!!
When the Lord introduced himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, there are two things that come to mind- origin (where we come from) and eternal happiness (Our hope of heaven). Both are impossible to decipher without that place we call home.
As the Lord ascended into heaven, he addressed his disciples, “all power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” In the same breath He also commanded, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” After having established His home in heaven and on earth, the Lord wanted everyone to be a part of his kingdom.
It is a natural course. Once we have found our identity, and realized our eternal oneness with our home, we would invite people to be a part of our lives by sharing God’s blessings of love, peace and goodness with others. We were born through our loved ones who gave us life; we define life by sharing it.
Indeed, Christ’s Ascension is a homecoming. And since His home is in heaven as well as on earth, His Ascension is an invitation for us to make our place here on earth a part of heaven, to make our lives a home for the Lord, and His presence our perpetual assurance that He will always be with us until the end of age.