While in many locations the Ascension of the Lord takes place exactly forty days after Easter on a Thursday, in our diocese it has been transferred to the following Sunday. Regardless of when we celebrate it Luke and Matthew’s readings reminds us that while Jesus assisted the disciples for a period of time after his resurrection, like all disciples, they had to strike out on their own sooner or later. They tell the story of the disciples gathering on a mountain as Jesus ascends. Even at this later time, some disciples still didn’t get the whole picture and expected Jesus to establish an earthly kingdom. How often do we listen to what God and the Church tell us and not “get it”?
Like the disciples, we have been given a mission by virtue of our baptism. How often would someone ask us, “why are you standing there looking at the sky?” Our job is to, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” And to, “teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.” How can we teach unless we ourselves have learned? Perhaps as we move forward to Pentecost and Ordinary Times, we can resolve to do a better job learning our faith so that, as we heard in 1st Peter last week, we are “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” When we feel ill equipped, we need to remember, Jesus is “with you always, until the end of the age.”
Countenance of God 