Today we celebrate what can seem like a paradox. After Jesus leaves His disciples, the Gospel tells us they return to Jerusalem with “great joy.” Normally, when someone we love leaves us, we experience sadness and loss. But the Ascension is different because it is not about Jesus becoming absent; it is about His presence taking on a new form.
If Jesus had remained on earth in His physical body, He would still be limited by time and space—present in one village, one home, one gathering at a time. Through the Ascension, however, Jesus is no longer beside us in the same physical way as He was over 2,000 years ago, but He is now present to all people everywhere and at every moment; 24/7.
A Representative in Heaven
At the same time, Jesus is our representative in Heaven. When He ascended to the Father, He did not leave His humanity behind. He carried His glorified human body, still bearing the wounds of the Passion, into the very heart of the Trinity.
This means that even now, at the right hand of the Father, there is a human heart that understands our own. For, Jesus knows what it is like to experience joy, exhaustion, betrayal, suffering, and sorrow here on earth.
And, by His Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, Jesus opened the gates of Heaven for us and has gone before us to prepare the way and place. Even in the darkest moments of life, the Ascension reminds us that suffering and death do not have the final word. Heaven is our true home, and Christ has already reached the destination we hope to reach.
Why Are You Looking at the Sky?
In the Acts of the Apostles, the angels ask the disciples a very important question: “Why are you standing there looking at the sky?” That question is meant for us too. While we look to Heaven for hope and guidance, we can’t forget our mission on earth.
Before ascending, Jesus instructed His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit….so they could become His witnesses. The same mission belongs to us. Jesus doesn’t ask us simply to wait for the end of time.
Instead, He calls us to be His hands, feet, and voice in the world—to bring His compassion, healing, and love into our families, friendships, workplaces, and communities.
The Courage of the Ascension
The Ascension also gives us courage. Because Jesus has conquered sin and death, we can face our own struggles with hope. Christ strengthens us with grace to begin again after failure, to persevere in holiness, and to continue choosing what is good and right.
As we prepare to receive the Eucharist today, let’s ask for two graces: first, to recognize Christ’s presence even in difficult times; and second, to stop merely looking toward Heaven and instead look to those around us—our families, friends, and neighbors—and witness to them through our lives…the hope and salvation that Jesus offers to all.
- Today’s Readings
- Father David’s inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center today. You can watch the entire Mass on the Family Rosary Video streams channel on YouTube.
- Join the Rosary (11:30 am ET) and Mass (Noon ET) livestreams on the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page, Monday – Friday. Invite your friends and family to pray with you as well.
