Today's Readings (Ascension)
(Audio)
Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name
The disciples had probably expected that the coming of the messiah represented the climactic conclusion to the story of salvation history. They expected that the (human) enemies of Israel would be defeated, that the worship of God would be definitively established in the (earthly) temple of Jerusalem. These expectations were too narrow. The enemies that were defeated were not flesh and blood but the devil and his minions. Right worship was established, but in the body of Jesus Christ himself. But even though the results were greater than anyone expected it did not represent the end, but the beginning.
One part of history was indeed being concluded. But it was so that a new age of mission could begin. The resurrection was the end of one era and the beginning of another. It was the vindication of the sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of the world. It meant that forgiveness was no longer just a future promise but was now a transformative reality. Previously the law had constrained the sinful impulses of humanity without being able to unleash inner transformation. The age of grace had now dawned. But this reality was not something that automatically impacted anyone. It was meant for the whole world. But in order for it to be available to everyone, people needed to hear about it. Only then could they have an opportunity to freely respond.
And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;
but stay in the city
until you are clothed with power from on high.
The Apostles might have assumed that they were already prepared for the mission. They had previously been sent out two by two to proclaim the Gospel even before the resurrection. They had performed signs and wonders, and rejoiced that even the demons were subject to them. But Jesus insisted that they needed more this time around. They would face much more opposition, such as that which only recently made them all abandon Jesus in fear. And they would bring the message to all nations, most of whom would initially have much less context for why they needed a messiah. In order to be effective in this new missionary role disciples needed all of the advantages that the promise of the Father would give them.
When they finished a pre-resurrection missionary journey, they come back to Jesus, and he could help to guide and teach them. But now he would do so from heaven, through the Spirit. It might seem that he was closer to them when he was on earth. But he was actually more immediately present to them from heaven through his Spirit. The Spirit would guide them into all truth, reminding them constantly of what Jesus had taught them. He himself would be with them to convict the world of the truth of their message. Had they simply gone out without waiting for the Spirit they quickly would have realized that they were on their own, and that, of themselves, they were insufficient. The rapid success and spread of the Church could not be explained by the talents of the Apostles, most of whom were uneducated peasants. It was only the presence of the Holy Spirit in that allowed the Gospel to rapidly spread to the corners of the earth.
As he blessed them he parted from them
and was taken up to heaven.
Jesus ceased to be present to them in visible physical way. But they did not experience this to be the loss that they once feared. The promise he gave them was enough that, even before receiving it on Pentecost, they were already filled with joy. They didn't return to Jerusalem to mourn the loss of a friend. But they returned with praise, both for what they had just experienced, and for what was yet to come.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since through the blood of Jesus
we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary
by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil,
that is, his flesh,
Jesus did not leave simply to trade places with the Spirit. He went to give us access to the sanctuary in heaven, and to allow us to already partake of the reality of heaven by living the life of the Spirit here on earth. Because he did so, things which were formerly symbols gave way to the true heavenly realities. It is now the Spirit that connects heaven and earth each time the sacraments are celebrated, and especially when we go to mass. He is the Spirit of the one who is enthroned in heaven. But he fills the hearts of all believers as well. And this gives us "confidence of entrance" allowing us to move forward with "absolute trust" and "hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope".
for he who made the promise is trustworthy.
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