Jesus came down from heaven to unite divinity with humanity, and He returned to heaven to seat humanity at the Father’s right hand. This is breathtaking, no more than that; it is the grandest surprise of all. God has astonished us with this revelation; He wants us to share in His very life through Christ our Lord, His only begotten Son.
In His Name
In the first reading today from the Acts of the Apostles, one night while Paul was in Corinth, the Lord said to him, “Do not be afraid. Go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you.” The Risen and Ascended Lord Jesus reminds Paul that Jesus’ mission to renew all creation in Christ and return it to the Father is now his mission, the mission of the Church. In the Gospel, Jesus tells the apostles to accomplish this mission; whatever they ask in His name, the Father will give them.
A Generous Father
Let me illustrate this with a true story. In 1939, a father and son were wealthy and famous art collectors. When WWII broke out the son volunteered. In 1944 the son died in battle while rescuing another soldier. A year later, a young man came to see his father. “Sir, you don’t know me, but I was with your son when he died. I want you to know he didn’t suffer. I know you both loved art,” he went on, “and though this isn’t much, I want you to have it.” He gave the father a package. Inside was a portrait of the son. It was rough work, but the father welled up with tears. “It was the least I could do for your son because he saved my life.”
A few months later, the father died. At the art auction that followed, investors gathered from around the world. The first item up for bid was the portrait of the son. The auctioneer tried to start the bidding: $200... $100…any bids? Any at all? The investors called out, “Skip this one. Bring on the Rembrandts.” Just then a man spoke up from the rear of the room. I’ll give you $10 for the painting. It’s all I have. It was the gardener at the father’s estate. So the auctioneer brought down the gavel. “Sold for $10.” An investor yelled, “Can we now get on with it?”
But the auctioneer continued, “The auction is over. According to the father’s will, whoever buys this first painting inherits the entire estate, including all the valuable works of art”
God the Father could not be more surprising and generous in giving his Son to die for us and, through His sacrifice, calling us to be members of the family of God.
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