The feast of the Ascension of the Risen Lord is celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter, the feast of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ throughout the Universal Church. This year, according to the liturgical calendar, it falls on June 1.
In the Parish of Panaji, the Feast of the Ascension is the second major feast, the first one being the feast of its patroness, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, on December 8.
With the blessing of the Maddi, the parishioners commenced a 9-day spiritual preparation culminating on the feast day, i.e. June 1.
The Ascension of the Lord marks the salvific event encompassed in the Paschal mystery. During his public ministry with his apostles, and prior to his arrest, Jesus had hinted to them, saying, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I shall go away to Him who sent me”, (Jn 7:33). The disciples did not comprehend what Jesus was referring to.
The Ascension of the Lord is recorded by Luke in the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel, both written by him. In Lk 24:51, it is said that, after blessing them, “He departed from them and was taken up into heaven”, while in the Acts (1:9), Luke states that “He was lifted up to heaven as they watched him, and a cloud hid him from their sight”.
Mark, the gospel writer, adds one significant sign of evidence to his Ascension, namely, he was not only taken up to heaven but he is seated at the right side of God”, (Mk 16:19).
St Paul too records that the God who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead, made him sit at His right side in heaven, (Eph 1:20).
John, in his gospel, recalls the words of Jesus, words that make an allusion to his Ascension, namely, “Now I am going to him who sent me”, (16:5). Further, Jesus observes that it is advantageous “for you that I go away, because if I do not go, the Helper (Holy Spirit) will not come to you. But if I do go away, then I will send him to you … he will lead you into all the truth”, 16:7. His going away does not imply that he is abandoning us; for he says, “When I go, I will not leave you as orphans” (Jn 14:18). Thus, the Risen Lord prepares us for the advent of the Holy Spirit which is the culmination of the Paschal mystery.
On returning to his Father, he has opened for us the doors of the heavenly gate for He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. During our earthly pilgrimage, he invites us to journey with him alongside with our brothers and sisters in harmony, solidarity and above all, in hope, particularly keeping in mind that we are in the Jubilee Year 2025 meant for our renewal and transformation as one big human family.
The celebration of this Parish Feast invites us to dedicate our lives to the service and welfare of our less fortunate ones.
[The writer is Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church in Panaji.]
