May 21 Sun
--- Ascension and evangelizing mission. The Apostles and all the disciples, were scared and disconcerted at Jesus’ death. They were unwilling and slow in believing his Resurrection. But, when the Lord entered the heights of heaven, not only were they affected with no sadness, but were even filled with great joy.

In heaven, Jesus is forever. He is our Mediator before the Father and communicates to us the joy and strength to live fully, as he did, for the Father. Jesus always forgives us (cf. Acts 5:31). In the mystery of the Ascension, Jesus fulfills the priestly role assigned to him by the Father: to intercede for his members, "for he always lives to make intercession for them" (Heb 7:25).

And Jesus confirms us in the same vocation as intercessors on behalf of the People of God, in the place we are. Thus, we fulfill his last command to evangelize, given before the Ascension: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Mt 28:19-20). There is a real connection between the grace that Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, instilled in our hearts in baptism, and our mission as heralds of his Gospel. No apostle can forget that the Ascension is linked to the fact that the Holy Spirit will come, and Christ will continue to be present through word and sacrament. Our whole mission consists in making Christ present.

The responsibility for the future of the Church rests on our shoulders. But we rest assured that the glorified Christ will sustain us. The victory and triumph of his Ascension and his elevation to the right hand of the Father will be communicated to future generations of the Church through us and through the proclamation of the mystery that we should make. What a wonderful call we have received! How lucky we are! What an exciting way to spend the only life we have!