The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is not about Jesus abandoning the world, but about the fulfillment of salvation. Christ does not leave humanity behind; rather, he brings our human nature into the glory of the Father. The Ascension tells us that heaven is now open because humanity already sits at the Father’s right hand in Jesus Christ. It is the declaration that suffering, wounded, fragile human nature has now been lifted into divine glory. The One who ascends is still Jesus of Nazareth: still bearing the marks of the nails, still carrying redeemed humanity within himself. The Ascension tells us that heaven is no longer closed to humanity because humanity already sits at the right hand of the Father in Christ. In the First Reading, the disciples are still struggling to understand what this means. They ask Jesus, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” They still expect an earthly and political kingdom. But Jesus widens their vision: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” The mission of Christ is universal. Likewise, in the Gospel, Jesus commands: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Hence, it is so clear that Christianity is missionary by nature. Faith is never meant to remain private; the Gospel must be shared. Yet Matthew honestly tells us that even as the apostles worshipped Jesus, “some doubted.” This gives us hope. The apostles were not perfect. They struggled with fear, weakness, and uncertainty. Peter denied Jesus, Thomas doubted, and many fled during the Passion. Still, Jesus entrusted them with the mission of the Church. The message is clear: God does not wait for perfect people before working through them. The mission depends not on human perfection, but on divine grace and is empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is why the Ascension is closely connected to Pentecost. Christ ascends so that the Holy Spirit may descend upon the Church. Jesus remains present with us: in the Scriptures, in the Eucharist, in the sacraments, in the poor and suffering, and in the community of believers. The Ascension also challenges us not to remain passive. The Church exists to evangelize. Authentic Christianity unites prayer and mission, worship and service. To love Christ is to love the poor, the hungry, the stranger, and those in need. The Gospel ends not with absence, but with the promise: “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”