Feast of the Ascension (Lk. 24:46-53) “What Part Can I Play?”

“All the world is a stage, and all men and women are merely players.” When we go to a stage play, we know that we move from one act to the next. We also know that actors move on and off stage as we tell a story. The play can’t continue unless the scenery changes. The actors also change. The storyline remains.

We get a sense that the Ascension of the Lord is a moment when the story of Jesus takes a dramatic turn. We have been reading Resurrection accounts throughout the Easter Season. The story of Jesus’ earthly life ends. If we never read all four Gospel accounts, we can’t appreciate how different they are. Each Evangelist, for example, explains Jesus’ departure from the earth in a alternative way. One thing is consistent in the four gospels which is that Jesus must move off stage.

If Jesus doesn’t move aside in the story, then the Pentecost event can’t take place. The Holy Spirit only arrives when Jesus departs. And then the story of the early church begins. Luke feels the Ascension event is the bridge between the resurrection of Jesus and the descent of the Holy Spirit.

If we look at the four gospels, we notice the Gospels of John and Matthew don’t mention the Ascension at all. Mark has an abbreviated account. Luke tells the story twice. We read both accounts today. The first description is in the Acts of the Apostles. We would have to say that this account is where we draw most of the information that the church uses to teach about the Ascension. We surmise from what we read that Jesus spent some time on earth with his Apostles giving them final instructions. When the time was right (forty days after Easter) Jesus ascended into heaven. We are not told where this happens.

In the Gospel account Jesus seems to ascend on Easter Sunday. Jesus leads the Apostles out of town to Bethany. The apostles return to Jerusalem glorifying and praising God.

Several things are striking about the Ascension narrative. One thing is that the description in the Acts of the Apostles resembles the story Luke tells about Easter morning. On Easter morning, the women go to the tomb looking for the body of Jesus. Two men in dazzling attire appear. And they say, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here.”

In the Ascension narrative in Acts we have a similar situation. As the Apostles look up in the heavens two men in dazzling robes appear. The two ask the apostles another deep question, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up at the sky?”

If we think about those two questions we are all challenged. Jesus gives the apostles two bits of information before he ascends to the heavens. He tells them that the Holy Spirit will inspire them. He also tells them that when they receive the gifts of the Spirit they are expected to share what they receive. The challenge is laid out for them which we label the “great commission.”

The Holy Spirit continues to inspire people today. How do we react when the Holy Spirit moves in our lives? We can play it safe, or we can move with the Spirit.

I am reminded of what just happened in Rome. The world witnessed an event filled with traditions and customs. A new Pope was elected. Part of the ritual is that after the election is complete, the Dean of the College of Cardinals asks the man who is elected a question in Latin, “Do you accept the results of this election?” At that moment Robert Prevost could have said no. He was faced with a life-changing choice. Everything would be different if he said yes. All eyes would be on him. His new role would even involve changing his name. Who could have blamed him if he had said no? He said yes.

But Cardinal Prevost moved with the Spirit. He said he was willing to be an instrument of God as the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church. Surely, he felt like those first disciples. He had two duties. One was to listen to the Holy Spirit. The other obligation was to share what he had received with the world.

Following the Spirit isn’t always pleasurable. It strikes me how a new Pope is taken from the conclave into what is called the “room of tears” where he prepares to meet the world as he takes up his Petrine ministry. Every newly elected Pope must feel overwhelmed when they enter the room of tears. When we follow the Holy Spirit, we are often challenged to imitate Jesus in new and different ways. We choose evolution over stagnation. We set our sights not on following our own will but on cooperating with God’s will for us. And then we move forward in faith.