This weekend, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.

It is still called Ascension Thursday in a few parts of the US and in much of the world, since 40 days after Easter Sunday falls on a Thursday, more particularly the Thursday just gone by.  So why is it celebrated here on Sunday?  Ascension Thursday would be a Holy Day, but we all know that we get a reduced number of people on a weekday.  The Church recognizes this sad truth and considers the Ascension such an important day that it is moved to replace the Seventh Sunday of Easter.  In fact, the 10 days from Ascension (when it is celebrated on Thursday) to Pentecost is often considered as its own season.  The Ascension Preface is used throughout these days.

And why is it so important?  Because the disciples, like you and me, were human.  Since Easter, they have been trying to come to grips with the mystery and wonder of Christ’s Resurrection!  Now, Jesus has Ascended, and they must come to grips with their responsibility.  They had to stop depending on Jesus and lay claim to the Gospel for themselves.  Again, this would take some time.  They would gradually move to the point where they realized that the job of proclaiming the Good News to a wounded world was theirs.  Thus, when the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, was given them, they would be ready to go out and spread the Gospel.

And that responsibility is passed from generation to generation.  Now, it falls to us.  He went from our sight that we might turn to one another and recognize him there.  Let us proclaim the Good News to the ends of the earth!