Rising to the occasion
MAY 17, 2026 – ASCENSION SUNDAY
Readings: First Reading: Acts 1: 1-11; Psalm 47, R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.; Ephesians 1: 17-23; Gospel – Matthew 28: 16-20
Today, we celebrate Ascension Sunday. This is the story of the Lord entrusting his mission to us, his church, through his apostles. And there are three essential elements to reflect on from today’s Gospel. The mountain setting is very important. Then we also see two commissions: to make disciples of all nations and to teach them everything the Lord has commanded his apostles.
The final, and most poignant, message was the promise he will always be with us to the very end.
Encounters between the human and the divine
We saw in Scripture how the mountain has always been a privileged place of encounter between the human and the divine. We have Moses and Yahweh in Sinai. Then the encounter of Elijah and God in Carmel. The Transfiguration was in Tabor.
All of these are key moments in our relationship with God and in our journey through our path of salvation.
Here in the Ascension, we have one of the most important moments of encounter. The Paschal Mystery is about to be completed. The Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension make possible the Pentecost.
This completed the Paschal Mystery—the central mystery of our faith and salvation.
The Lord ended his mission here on earth, as God-with-us, and returned to the Father. He entrusted the continuation of his mission to us, his church. His presence in the world is now through us as the church, the Body of Christ.
“The mass is our mountain experience”
Fr. Catalino G. Arevalo, S.J. always mentioned to us in class that the altar at the celebration of the Mass is our mountain experience. Each Mass is a special encounter between the human hopes, aspirations, and dreams, even amid challenges and pain, with divine grace and presence.
The Mass is our privileged moment of encounter with the central mystery of our faith and our salvation.
Each Mass ends with our being commissioned. We are sent “out into the world” to love and serve, to proclaim the Good News of our salvation.
Humbling and inspiring
The commissioning in today’s Gospel asks us to invite others and inspire them to be part of our community. We are asked to be witnesses to the Good News, to be alter Christus—another Christ in the world.
Then he added that we must lead others to loving obedience; to follow everything Jesus commanded us.
Loving obedience was central to Jesus’ mission. It was the central grace that transformed the suffering on the Cross into the perfect sacrifice that won for us our salvation. We are entrusted with this mission. How humbling and inspiring.
But the most poignant moment in the Gospel was when the Lord promised he will be with us to the end of the age.
The lines from the song “I Am Always with You” beautifully capture this moment and promise.
“I am with you, ‘til the end of your days
I am with you
Have faith that I hold you even when you let go
And I love you
You must know, I am here, I am ever with you.”
He will hold us even when we let go. We must always remember he loves us and he will be forever with us.
This is central to our mission—to be the presence of the Risen Lord in our world. To help others remember his loving presence in their lives.
