Acts 1:1-11; Ephes. 1:17-23 or Heb. 9:24-28, 10:19-23; Lk. 24:44-53
To understand the depth of this moment, we must see how it fulfills Scripture, mirrors Old Testament ascensions, demands a response from believers, and still speaks dynamically into our world today. Jesus opens the minds of His disciples to understand that everything written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms points to Him. This threefold division represents the whole of the Hebrew Scriptures. The suffering, death, and resurrection of the Messiah, along with the proclamation of repentance and forgiveness, are not afterthoughts—they are the unfolding of God’s ancient plan.
From the Old Testament, we find stories that prepare us for this heavenly moment. Moses, the great leader of Israel, ascends Mount Nebo and sees the Promised Land. Though he does not enter it, his vision is a prophetic foreshadowing. Like Moses,
The Ascension is not merely a miraculous event to be admired—it is a mission to be lived. Jesus tells His disciples that "repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." Then He says, “You are witnesses of these things.” To witness is not only to see but to testify. The apostles were to be the voice of the risen and ascended Lord on earth. This task was not optional. The experience of the risen Christ demanded proclamation. As Jesus ascends, He passes on the responsibility of His mission to the disciples. Before they are sent, they are told to stay. Because mission without the Spirit is motion without direction. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit—power from on high—to enable their witness. In this way, the Ascension is not abandonment but empowerment. It’s a transition from physical presence to spiritual presence—Jesus is no longer with them in body but will be within them by the Spirit.
Throughout history, countless men and women have taken Jesus’ call seriously. Their lives illustrate what it means to live out the message of the Ascension—with joy, power, and purpose. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor and theologian, stood against Hitler’s regime and participated in efforts to end Nazi tyranny. Even from prison, he ministered to others, writing letters filled with hope and faith. On the day of his execution, he said, "This is the end—for me, the beginning of life." His witness continues to echo across generations. In India, Gladys Staines publicly forgave the attackers who killed her husband, Graham Staines, and their two sons. Instead of withdrawing, she continued serving leprosy patients in Orissa. Her life demonstrated what it means to proclaim forgiveness in Jesus’ name, in the face of unimaginable loss. In China, believers gather secretly, risking their lives to worship and share the Gospel. Their witness is a living response to the message of the Ascension—they await not comfort but power from on high, and they are faithful to their calling.
Consider the story of a young African woman named Josephine Bakhita, born into slavery in Sudan and later canonized by the Catholic Church. After enduring horrific abuse, she found freedom in Italy and chose to enter religious life. Her serene joy and deep faith became a testimony to the transformative power of Christ. When asked what she would do if she met her captors, she replied, "If I were to meet them, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if it had not been for them, I would not have become a Christian and a religious woman." Her response echoes the heart of Christ’s mission: forgiveness, redemption, and peace.
There is also the example of Brother Roger of Taizé, whose simple community in France drew young people from across the globe to a life of prayer, simplicity, and reconciliation. Despite the modern world’s divisions, his quiet witness bore fruit, showing that the ascended Christ is still calling people into unity and peace. Similarly, the story of Father Ragheed Ganni, an Iraqi priest who was murdered after celebrating Mass, tells us that the witness of faith continues even unto death. Before his death, he said, "Without Sunday, we cannot live." His deep love for the Eucharist and the Church remains an ascension-shaped testimony.
In an age driven by skepticism, materialism, and rapid technological change, how can we communicate the Ascension’s message in ways that are simple and appealing? The world needs to hear that Jesus' going was not a departure but an elevation—He went up so He could be universally present. A child once said, “Jesus went to heaven so He could be everywhere with everyone.” That childlike understanding is profoundly true. The same Jesus who lifted His hands to bless the disciples now blesses the world through His Spirit.
You don’t need a pulpit or platform. A nurse praying silently for her patients, a teacher living with integrity, a businessman choosing honesty—these are witnesses of Jesus in everyday life. Each of them communicates the message of Jesus. He reigns, and we are His people, living under His authority and mission. The disciples were told to wait in Jerusalem. In a world that glorifies speed, waiting seems weak. But waiting on the Spirit is not inactivity—it’s receptivity. Like farmers waiting for rain, we wait for the Spirit, expectant and alert.
A little boy once flew a kite so high it disappeared into the clouds. A passerby asked, “How do you know it’s still there?” The boy replied, “Because I can feel the tug.” That’s the Ascension. We may not see Jesus with our eyes, but we feel the tug—the pull of His Spirit, the call of His mission, the whisper of His blessing.
The Ascension is not the end of Jesus’ story—it’s the continuation of His presence in a new form. He ascended to empower us, bless us, and entrust us with His mission. Let us wait with hope, witness with boldness, live with joy, and bless God.
Satish