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Thursday, May 17, 2012

Ascended into Heaven

Theologically, today is one of the most important days for understanding our current situation. Jesus is gone. He is taken up into heaven. For forty days He appeared to the apostles, demonstrating that He was alive and instructing them in the deeper meaning of the Sacred Scriptures (our Old Testament).

The way we talk about Jesus is important. He is not still here. He is gone. The Ascension is intended to communicate that to us. Perhaps no Gospel more clearly spells out this new reality than the Gospel of John. For example, John 16:7 ("I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate (Greek = paraclete) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.") indicates that Jesus' presence will now be mediated/communicated in/through the Holy Spirit. He has not abandoned us or left us bereft of hope. However, the Spirit is not palpable and much of the time not discernable. We may well feel alone, even if that Paraclete sent by Jesus is active within and around us.

In John 17:11 ("And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them...") we learn that Jesus is our advocate with the Father. He pleads on our behalf for protection. The world is a dangerous place (John 15:18-26) which hates Jesus, hates us and, therefore, in reality hates God. In the time of His absence, we are witnesses. Jesus says that those who reject Him are rejecting the God (and Father) Who sent Him.

The absence of Jesus produces in us a hunger and desire. It is also frustrating. Illness, suffering, problems and death continue to "rule" in our midst. Jesus is not walking among us healing and exorcising. Jesus is not there to challenge or comfort us. His immediate presence is in Spirit. It cannot be seen, heard or touched.

But we are not orphans. We have eucharist. We have Scriputre. We have the Church. In and through word, sacrament and community the Lord is present again; He is re-membered. But the presence now is as likely to produce deeper longing as it is joy and communion. It is a glass of water when we want to swim!

Today is a happy day. We recall Jesus taken into glory to receive His crown.
Today is a sad day. We see that Jesus is gone, taken up in the clouds.
Today is a hopeful day. We hear that He will return some day, just as He left.
And today is a mission focused day. We are called not to ponder His absence but to preach, teach, heal and exorcise in His name.

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