Acts 1:1-11 / Ephesians 1:17-23 / Matthew 28:16-20
Forty days after His Resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven. That is why the Ascension of the Lord is celebrated today.
As the 1st reading puts it: Jesus had shown Himself alive to His disciples after His Passion by many demonstrations. For forty days He had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God.
The number 40 in the Bible has this meaning of cleansing and purification. It also has the meaning of strengthening and enlightenment.
For the disciples, during those 40 days, much has happened and they had to grapple with what they need to know and understand.
In the gospel, they set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them.
When they saw Him, they fell down before Him, though some hesitated.
There is something odd about that phrase "though some hesitated". Why did some of the disciples hesitated? Didn't they know that it is the Lord Jesus?
Maybe too much had happened and the reality of who Jesus is had yet to sink into them, hence some of them hesitated.
For us, much has also happened, and we too are uncertain and unsure about the future and what will happen next.
But whatever the future is and whatever will happen, let us take comfort and consolation in those last words of Jesus - And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.
That is the promise of Jesus to His disciples and to us. Let us stay close to Jesus and be with each other and let that promise of Jesus be fulfilled.