Homily Notes for May 20, Feast of the Ascension

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension, the Return of Jesus to the Father. Our celebrations of the works of God through the year are a rhythmic cycle of Going Out and Returning.

We have celebrated Christmas. Jesus, the Eternal Word of God through whom all things were made, became Flesh and lived among us.
We have celebrated Good Friday. Jesus poured out his life as an offering.
We have celebrated Easter. Jesus appears with a risen body. He instructs his disciples.
We celebrate Ascension. Jesus returns to the Father. Jesus sends us out.
We look forward to His coming again.

Going out and Returning. In Latin, Exitus-Reditus. Jesus went out from the Father, received our humanity and returns to the Father. He sends us out to gather humanity into one in His love. The disciples wait, are filled with the Spirit and then sent out.

Isaiah says:

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55: 10-11)

There is a rhythm of going out and returning in our lives and in God’s revelation. In each going out and returning, the world is made more complete. God’s purpose is achieved.

Jesus returns to the Father with a glorified body. Our humanity returns with him. We are sent out and return with that part of creation we have touched and brought into our lives.

Each week, we go out from Church, encounter our world and come back. Through it all something wonderful is being built up.

In today’s second reading, Paul writes to the Ephesians. He has a prayer.

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
 give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation
 resulting in knowledge of him.
 May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
 that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
 what are the riches of glory
 in his inheritance among the holy ones,
 and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
 for us who believe, 
in accord with the exercise of his great might:
 which he worked in Christ. (Ephesians 1: 17-20)

There is another sense of going out and returning in all great religious traditions. The seeker goes out in search of wisdom, enlightement, salvation, love, actualization -- the words with which we describe whatever "it" is can be multiplied. But the one who has found it always returns to share it with others, to teach others. It isn't something to be grasped at or exploited. It is something to be freely and graciously shared.

Can we feel the difference between "getting and grabbing and holding" and receiving and returning to share?

This is just a beginning reflection. Some thoughts to play with and let take root in my thoughtsand life.

Can we feel that rhythm in our lives? Can we believe it is filled with the power of God? Something Major League wonderful is being built.