Ascension Sunday (A)/Go to the whole world
  Acts 1:1-11/Ps 47/Eph 1:17-23/Mt 28:16-20
  Introduction
 

          Oftentimes when someone is dying in the family we start to call everyone to come home. It will be their last opportunity to embrace and kiss him, and to hear his last words before he dies. And it is a mutual experience. He too loves to see everyone and to talk to them for the last time. It is indeed a very liberating experience if we said our goodbyes well.

  
  Background
 
  1. When Christ ascended into heaven, he wanted to see all his apostles and to give them his instruction for the last time. And Jesus did it on the mountain. It remains us of Yahweh giving the 10 commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai.  Yahweh commanded Moses to call all his people together. He gave instructions how to liberate his people from slavery in Egypt bring them to the promise land.

  2. In today’s Gospel, Christ called all his apostles on the mountain and gave them instruction to liberate his “new people” (the Church) from the slavery of “sin.” His instruction is not anymore through the obedience to the “law” but through the acceptance of faith in baptism. It is in baptism that all people are freed from sins and become faithful members of His Church.

  3. This Gospel proves that the early Church already use Trinitarian formula in their Baptismal liturgy.  “Go to the whole world… baptize them, in the name of the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”. If baptism is an acceptance of faith (Trinitarian faith.) then we are consistent for two thousand years, until now, with the same faith that the ancient Christian communities used and professed.
  
  Reflection:  
 
  1. When we are baptized we become members of the Church. And the Church is the body of Christ. When the Head ascend into heaven, then the whole body goes up with him too. No one moves somewhere and leaving parts of his body behind. That’s the beauty of ascension. When he goes up to heaven he brings the whole church with him to the Father.

  2. The Gospel today is more than just about leaving. It is story of a triumphant Messiah who won the whole world into himself and entrusting its care to the leaders of his Church. It is a story of love that before going up to the Father he wants to make sure that we have all we need. And the Spirit will supply us of all that.

  3. Christ met his disciples for the last time in Galilee.  It was the very same place where he first called them. Remember, Peter and Andrew was catching fish then. It was in Galilee where they gave their first “YES” and followed him. After those failures, denials and betrayal, he still wanted to meet them in the same place with the same love. If Jesus wanted to establish his Church under the care of St. Peter and his apostles, he should forgive them first. It is also true to all of us, only in the level of love and reconciliation that we can trust once again the very same persons who failed us before.
 
  Conclusion  
 

        I believe love goes beyond physical presence, because love is infinite; as God who is Love is infinite. Therefore love can not be bounded by time or space, it should be eternal. It is only when Christ left this world, that he was able to send his Spirit. By sending the Holy Spirit, Christ was able to express the fullness of his love for us, and it will be forever. . .