The Ascension of the Lord
The Ascension's Continuation
17 May 2026
Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension. At first glance, it can feel like a farewell story—Jesus lifting off, leaving Earth behind, and returning to a distant place called Heaven. This image can make Heaven seem far away, and Earth feel like something to be escaped from.
But the Jewish understanding of heaven and earth is that they are two interlocking dimensions of God's single creation. The Ascension, then, is not an escape. It is an embrace.
By ascending in His glorified body—flesh and bone, body and blood—Jesus does not leave Earth behind. He brings Earth into Heaven. He takes our humanity into the very life of God. The Ascension means that wherever Jesus is, Heaven and Earth are united. And as He promised, He is with us always, until the end of the age.
In the Lord's Prayer—itself a Jewish prayer—we say: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." We are therefore commissioned: "Go into the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation."
We are all called to become active and involved in bringing heaven to earth. The question asked by the two men in white (the angels)—"Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky?"—is directed especially to those of us who grow passive.
It is so easy to become passive. To admire Jesus from a safe distance. To keep our faith private, polite, and personal. To think, "Someone should do something about the suffering in my parish." To hope a priest, a bishop, or a missionary will bring Heaven to Earth, while we stay in our Jerusalem (comfort zones), gazing upward. The angels are saying: Stop staring. Start moving.
Let St. Teresa of Avila's famous words become our mission statement:
"Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on Earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which He looks with compassion on the world. Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which He blesses all the world."
You are the Ascension's continuation. When we feed the hungry, Heaven touches Earth. When we visit the sick and pray with them, Heaven touches the Earth. When we forgive someone who doesn't deserve it, Heaven touches Earth. When we speak truth in love at a family dinner that could turn hostile, Heaven touches Earth. When we come to Mass on a Sunday morning, even when we would rather sleep in, and PARTICIPATE, Heaven touches Earth.
"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven."
Amen.