The Ascension of the Lord

by Fr. Jerome Cayetano  |  05/17/2026  |  The WORD in other words

Fr. Flor McCarthy, SDB, the author of the New Sunday & Holy Day Liturgies, has a beautiful anecdote to share with us. When Jesus returned to heaven after His death and resurrection, the Archangel Gabriel was surprised to see Him back soon. "Back so soon?" Gabriel said to Jesus. "Well, I would have stayed longer but they crucified me," Jesus replied. "Oh so, they crucified You," said Gabriel. "That means You failed." "Not necessarily," said Jesus.

"You see I called together a little group of disciples. They will carry on my work." "And what if they should fail?" asked Gabriel. "I've no other plans," said Jesus. Jesus had preached the Gospel only to Israel. But now He had commissioned the apostles to baptize and preach the Gospel to all the nations. It's a daunting task. But He promised that He would send them the Holy Spirit. He also assured them that He would be with them always: "I'll be with you always, yes, to the end of time."

Today, we celebrate the solemnity of the Lord's Ascension. He ascended into heaven and seated at the right hand of the Father; our creed tells us. What is then the deeper meaning behind the Lord's ascension?

First, Jesus is no longer with His disciples physically, thus ended his intimacy and familiarity with them, but He had not left them entirely. Jesus had assumed a new role to them; He is present in and through them in the Spirit until the end of time. Jesus' ascension is His liberation from his restriction in time and space. Before His resurrection, He was limited. He could not be in two places at the same time. But now He is united with his Father, He is everywhere, any time He wants. This closeness of Jesus to us liberates us from a sense of abandonment and despair.

Second, as Jesus claims His throne in heaven, He now intercedes on our behalf before the Father. Since He is both God and Man, He knows our predicament, thus He has the right to intercede for us before our Father. God our Father will always listen to His Son when He presents our concerns to Him.

Third, as Jesus has ascended into heaven, thus heaven becomes our ultimate goal in life. Jesus has become our Hope. Thus, everything here on earth is passing and transitory. Heaven is our Hope. We have to fix our eyes and hearts on heaven. Our hope is that someday, we will be all united with Jesus in heaven.

Fourth, as Jesus intercedes on our behalf before the throne of God, we must not belittle the power of interceding for others in prayer. Our prayers ought to teach us to be more charitable to others, to be mindful of the needs of humanity, the whole church, and others. And most especially we should pray for our Holy Father, for our national and local leaders, for the conversion of sinners and for peace in the world. Ascension teaches us to be selfless in our prayers and be mindful of others. As Mother Teresa of Calcutta aptly says: "I don't pray for success, I pray that I may be a faithful witness."