Ascension Sunday C / He went up to Heaven
 

Acts 1:1-11/ Ps 47/ Eph 1:17-23/ Lk.. 24:46-53
  Introduction
 

          Every Soldier is being trained and sent to a mission. When the mission is complete the soldiers are recalled to go back home. Jesus had done his mission. He won the war against sin by dying on the Cross. Now He is being called back home in heaven.
         In order for the apostles to ascend to heaven with him, they must also win a good fight against sin.  After training them for 3 years of with Christ in his ministry, now they are to fulfill their mission.

  
  Background
 
  1. Their mission is to preach. To tell the whole world that the the Messiah was crucified and died, and on the third day rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. The second part of the mission is to preach repentance, for the forgiveness of sin.

    Until now the church is faithful to these two missions. Every mass the priest says, “Let us proclaim the mystery of our faith,” then the people will answer. “Christ has died, Christ is risen Christ will come again.” And priests made themselves available in the confession, for repentance, for the forgiveness of sin.

  2. Then Christ promised the reinforcement. Christ was aware that his apostles were weak. They easily give up in times of trail. Christ gave them a “back up.” Like any marines of small battalion, they go to war secured, because they know that anytime they easily call their headquarters and in a minute a big reinforcement will come. In the same way they were told by Christ to wait for the One promised by the Father, the Holy Spirit. He will help them all the way.

  3. There is the formal sending. Like any group of Army, before they were sent to a mission, their officers boast their morale. They develop their idealism and patriotism, and they were convinced and ready to die for their country. In the same way after His last instruction before His ascension, He leads them to Bethany. He blessed them.  They returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Ready to face the world and fight a good fight.
  
  Reflection:  
 
  1. We need to ask ourselves: what is the meaning of your life? Why are you here? What is our mission and purpose in life? Socrates, a great Greek philosopher said, “unexamined life is not worth living.” We have to reflect and examine our life. There should always be a reason why we are created. There should be reason to live and a reason to die.

  2. In today’s troubled world. Where there is always a treat of terrorism. We have to boast each others’ morale. We all need the support and affirm each other. We might meet people on the streets apparently smiling, but if we will look closely in their eyes, there is loneliness, there is fear. We need to hold hand together, and together we can win.

  3. But when things really get hard and tough we have to call for the “reinforcement.”  We have to call on God in prayer. We are in a very technologically advance world in just one click in a computer we might fall into temptation (not mentioning the risk of having direct access to media, TV and videos.) We times of great fight against sin, we need to pray that He will send to us the Holy Spirit as promised by the Father. Yes with human effort alone, it is really impossible but with the grace of the Holy Spirit “the impossible becomes possible.”
 
  Conclusion  
 

         Christ brought his physical body in his ascension. He did not allow it to be ruined in the tomb. Since the Church is the mystical body of Christ, He will never allow his Church to be destroyed by death. He will also bring his Body (the church) into heaven. Since we are the church, therefore we are destined to ascend into heaven like him. But like Jesus we have to fight first against sin. Remember, No thorns, no crown. No cross, no glory. Fight a good fight and win the war against sin. And see you in heaven.