A Few Words On "The Word"

May 28, 2006
The Ascension of the Lord into Heaven

Mark 16: 15-20

He Goes Up, We Go Out

So Jesus shoots into outer space without the space shuttle? Flies without wings? Float away without a hot air balloon? In the creed, our statement of faith, we say that we believe in Jesus, "true God, and true man." Not a word about super-hero comic book special effects powers.

So what do we make of this solemn feast, of this line in today's gospel that says, "So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up to heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God." Think metaphor. (Yes, it's the end of the school year but this won't kill you! It might even get you out of a jam on your English final.)

Hope you didn't snooze out that day. Metaphor's important. "Love is blind." Huh? No, it doesn't mean that love has eyes that cannot see. It means, among many other things, that love doesn't even see the beloved's imperfections, let alone think about them. "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." Sure, but no matter what we might be tempted to think, before you scarfed down that bag of White Castle gut bombs, it was not pulling a carriage around the Water Tower on the Mag Mile. Mooed in a pasture, yes, but never ran in the Kentucky Derby.

"Being taken up" is a metaphor for fullness, completion. Like winning the race. Like graduating from high school. For as long as anyone can remember, the vast beauty of the sky and the mystery of space have been signs of the infinite, of eternal life, of heaven. Christ's work is done, his struggle won. He goes to God.

In ancient days and far away places, only the most faithful follower, only the favorite child sat at "the right hand" of the ruler. That's the metaphor used here to indicate Jesus' relationship with God the Father.

In the account of Christ's ascension into heaven recorded in the first reading, the Acts of the Apostles, we're told that the disciples are so freaked that they stand there staring up at the sky, mouths open. What do the angels come along and tell them to do? "Don't just stand there. Go!"

In Mark's version of the event, Jesus tells them what to do before he is taken from their sight: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature! Drive out demons...Heal the sick!"

So remember: When he goes up, we go out. Don't just sit there reading this now! Log off and get going!

Reflection Question

How might you share the good news of new life with "every creature" this week in your community?

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