To enable the faithful to participate in the celebration of Jesus’ Ascension to heaven, the solemnity is held in the Philippines on Sunday instead of exactly on the 40th day after Easter. The departure of the Lord from the company of his followers does not mean separation or abandonment. He remains with His own even to the end of the world with all power in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:16-20).
Last appearance
Matthew does not speak explicitly of the ascension of the risen Jesus, but only of His last appearance, the end of His visible presence among His disciples. This final appearance is placed by the evangelist “in Galilee”, where Jesus began His ministry (4:13). “Galilee of the Gentiles” on the border to the pagan world, thus underlining the continuity between the ministry of Jesus and the mission of the apostles to the world. It took place on a mountain, just as He proclaimed the charter of the kingdom of heaven on a mountain (5:1ff) and taught the crowds from a mountain side on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Recapitulating the resurrection appearances, our gospel scene on Jesus’ initiative is intended to allow the disciples to see, recognize and worship him. More than the other evangelists, Matthew places much emphasis on the respect owed the Lord as he narrates 10 such instances of prostrations and acts of homage (2:2.8.11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9.17). Like other theophanies manifesting the divine, the appearance of Jesus resurrected was not so obvious as to exclude all doubts (Mark 16:8; Luke 24:11; John 20:25). For his followers, faith must also still overcome uncertainty and reservation.
Make disciples
Recognition and worship include mission. As Jesus was transfigured on a mountain witnessed by Peter, James and John with the glory that would be His at the end of his exodus (17:1ff), He now declared on a mountain that all power in heaven and on earth has been given to Him by God. On the mountain in the desert the devil tempted Him to seize power for himself (4:8-10), which He refused to do adhering to His fundamental option that God alone should be worshipped and served. Faithful to God, cosmic dominion is now His as foretold of the Son of Man, a term Jesus used in referring to Himself (26:63-64, quoting Daniel 7:13).
This absolute and universal sovereignty of Jesus demands that all nations be invited and given the opportunity to follow Him. Discipleship begins with baptism in the name of Jesus, i.e., belonging to Him and adhering to His gospel way. This act of faith in Jesus has at its heart believing in and entering into communion with the God He revealed: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So, this kind of faith entails concretely, keeping His commandments. Faith translated into action and life is imitation of Jesus who wants only that God’s will be done (6:10; 26:39), and for whom fidelity to the will of his heavenly Father is the basis of true communion with Him (12:50), not merely spouting “Lord, Lord” (7:21).
Alálaong bagá, as at the Transfiguration, the disciples must come down from the mountain of life-changing encounter with the Lord. Now, they must get beyond the boundaries of Galilee and go to all nations. They are to teach all peoples the faith in Jesus, a way of life they must live first. Fidelity to the commandments is taught by, through and in the keeping—not just in repeating the words of Jesus. Spreading by example Jesus’ way of life calls for sensitivity and creativity whereby like “the scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven” the disciples know how to draw new and old things from the treasure they have received (13:52), according to the times and the needs of the recipients.
This daunting task of making disciples of all nations and teaching by example is not left entirely to the ways and means of the disciples. The mission is on the premise of the promised presence of Jesus. “I am with you always, until the end of the age.” This last saying of Jesus in Matthew’s gospel fulfills all his other promises. It echoes the prophecy in the name given Him at the beginning: Emmanuel—God is with us (1:23).
Join me in meditating on the Word of God every Sunday, from 5 to 6 a.m. on dwIZ 882, or by audio-streaming on www.dwiz882.com.