I am with you always
Listening to the Spirit
Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Word so that all your people may know and love You more and understand You better. As I go about my day may I not forget the scriptures you have opened up for me. Help me to recognize how You want for me to apply Your Word to my daily life. Holy Spirit, guided by Your Word, may You enlighten my mind and enkindle in my heart a greater love for You and for others in my family and in the world. Amen.
Listening to the Word
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshipped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, 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. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Reflection
Today, we are celebrating the Solemnity of the Lord's Ascension. But our Gospel today does not mention anything about the Lord's ascension. The version we are familiar with about this Solemnity is that of Luke, not San Mateo.
Saint Matthew said in today's Gospel Jesus met the eleven disciples on a mountain and instructed them, "…And behold I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS; until the end of the age." These words are the last verse of the Gospel. There is no actual ascension of Jesus to heaven. To have a better understanding of "the end of Matthew's gospel, let's go back to its beginning. In Mt 1:22-23, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream: "the virgin will give birth to a son, who will be called Emmanuel which means 'God is with us'."
That's why at the end of his Gospel, Saint Matthew seems to remind us who and what Jesus is - He is Emmanuel, the God who lives with us. Jesus is God's choice for us; God will not leave. The "disappearance" of Jesus from our physical sight does not mean God will abandon us. Matthew emphasizes that when Jesus disappeared from the physical presence of people, God did not leave or forsake us. Jesus is the fulfilment of God's plan foretold by the prophets; Jesus continues to be faithful to His redeemed People. Jesus is the Fidelity of God. He is God's faithful presence to and with His People. He is Emmanuel.
The Lord did not ascend to depart but to be glorified by the Father. He ascended not to disappear from our journey but to remain in another way, at a higher level, through the grace or mystery of his stay and communion with us. The ascension of the Lord is not a farewell but a stay. His ascension is not a leaving but being with us in grace and communion through his mystical body, the Holy Church. His ascension is a faith challenge, …
He is EMMANUEL. The question is: Is God already with you?
Gospel Reflections
Beyond the Gathering: Loving Through Conflict
Allowing Jesus to Change Us
