Around holidays, people tend to look fondly back on past celebrations and romanticize old relationships. For some, remembering the past is the best part of their holiday. That is the image we get from the first reading as the apostles look up to heaven after the Ascension. They think it is Jesus’ last Resurrection appearance and that they will never see him again. Maybe they were still amazed at seeing him ascend that way. Or maybe they were remembering all the things he said and did with them.
We too sometimes look at the great feasts of Christmas and Easter in that way. We may dwell on the beauty of the decorations, on the innocence of the baby Jesus, on the horror of his passion and death, or on the wonder of his resurrection. Then when the holy day is over, we go back to our normal routine. Perhaps we need an angel to chide us for “looking at the sky.”
The angels were trying to tell the apostles two things. One was that Jesus would return as he left—in glory. This was not a time to say goodbye but a time of hope; the Lord who had changed their lives so radically would change the world next. While they certainly should remember Jesus and all he taught them, they should also expect to see him again. Once they received the Holy Spirit, they would see how Jesus was present in the church, the mystical Body of Christ.
The second thing the angels were telling them was to begin following Jesus’ command to spread the Good News to all nations. They would soon realize that Jesus was alive in them, not just as a fond memory, but with the power of his Spirit. With this power they would do mighty deeds in Jesus’ name and be his witnesses to the world.
Because of what the apostles accomplished, we are now Jesus’ witnesses to the world. We celebrate his death and resurrection not as a fond memory, but to encourage each other to spread the Good News. We too have the hope of seeing Jesus come in glory, even as we see him now with the eyes of faith.
Tom Schmidt, Dioceseasn Publications