Occasion: Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
Readings: Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20

IN THE STORY The Fugitive by the famous Indian author Rabindranath Tagore, a father returns from his wife's funeral. His boy of 7 stands at the window with eyes wide open and a golden amulet hanging from his neck. The boy is full of thoughts too difficult for his age. His father takes him in his arms and the boy asks, "Where is Mother?" The father answers, "In heaven," pointing to the sky. The boy raises his eyes to the sky and gazes long in silence. His bewildered mind searches into the night, asking the question, "Where is heaven?" No answer comes, and the stars seem like burning tears in that ignorant darkness.

Apparently the disciples of Jesus were asking the same question, and in the 14th chapter of John's gospel, Jesus speaks to that very point. He says, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going" (14:3-4). Immediately, Thomas and Philip protest. "How can we know the way?" Thomas asks. "Lord, show us the Father and we shall be satisfied," Philip demands. Jesus says, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father?' Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?" (14:5, 8-10).

What is it that Jesus had talked about that would help them understand? Where is this place called heaven? What is it like?

The disciples would come to realize that what Jesus talked about in this context was God. He said that wanting God was the "one thing needful." He said that knowing God was like a treasure hidden in a field, or a pearl of great price that was so valuable you would sell everything you had in order to obtain it. He said the people who are really happy, the people who are really blessed, are those who are "poor in spirit" because they know they need God in order to give life meaning. Later, in the John 17, he tells them all they need to know about the subject: "This is eternal life: to know God."

Speculating about what and where is the heaven into which Jesus ascended can be a problem for each one of us. Who hasn't wondered what it is like? Where is it? And it is inevitable, I suppose, that we think of heaven as a geographical location. "When my soul is called up yonder, I'll be there." But where? "When the saints go marching in." Marching? What will they be marching into?

Speculating about what and where is the heaven into which Jesus ascended can be a problem for each one of us. Who hasn't wondered what it is like? Where is it? And it is inevitable, I suppose, that we think of heaven as a geographical location. "When my soul is called up yonder, I'll be there." But where? "When the saints go marching in." Marching? What will they be marching into?

There is a story about a group of American tourists, looking out toward the sea from the Italian Riviera. "It looks like heaven!" one of the tourists exclaimed. A local Italian woman standing nearby said, "These American tourists, they've been everywhere."

Matthew's gospel ends at a point where the disciples have followed Jesus everywhere. After his Resurrection ". . . the eleven disciples went to Galilee to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him they worshiped him . . . Jesus came and said to them '. . . make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you' " (28:16, 17, 19, 20). Moreover, he assured the disciples that in their lifelong efforts to carry out his commands, they would never be alone. "Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age," he said to them (28:20).

Whether God has scheduled the end time for tomorrow, a million years from now, or even a billion years hence is not our problem. Our Resurrection faith tells us that God's plan for creation's total fulfillment will ultimately prevail. Ours is not to wonder "where or when." Our problem is: How do we respond now to the Good News from Christ that each one of us is an integral part of God's plan for his coming Kingdom?

How do we respond now to the Good News of eternal life with God? How do we respond now, to the awesome, wondrous revelation, through Jesus Christ, of God's tremendous love for us? In other words, how do we respond now to today's gospel in which Jesus assures us that we will never be alone?

"Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age," Jesus has promised. Blessed are we who believe that the promises made by our Lord and Savior will be fulfilled! Blessed are we who believe we will never be alone.