Sermon – Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, Year A – May 17, 2026

Today we celebrate the feast of the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. After his resurrection, Jesus did not ascend directly to heaven. He remained on earth for a time and appeared to his apostles several times to demonstrate the truth of his resurrection.

Forty days later, he ascended to heaven. Although these forty days ended last Thursday, the Church celebrates this feast on Sunday. Today we also celebrate the moment when Jesus entrusted his mission to his apostles.

Jesus said to his apostles: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.” Jesus lived, preached, taught, and now the task of carrying his message has been entrusted to his apostles. We see all these truths clearly in the first reading and in the Bible today.

The first reading is from the first chapter of the Book of Acts, written by Saint Luke. Saint Luke writes: “After suffering the pain of death, Jesus showed himself to his disciples with many signs that he was resurrected. He appeared to them for forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” In the Book of Acts, Saint Luke describes Jesus' appearances to the apostles after the Resurrection. These appearances of Jesus were to show and prove the truth of what he taught about the Resurrection.

The apostles asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would be established. Jesus said that knowing the times was not up to us. Our task is to bear witness to Jesus. And who helps us to bear witness to Jesus? The Holy Spirit, whom He sent to us. That is why we read: “But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive power; you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” The Holy Spirit helps us to know the truth and to bear witness to it. At the same time, the Holy Spirit empowers us to do what Jesus asks of us.

In today's Gospel, Jesus appears to his apostles before ascending to heaven. This is a crucial moment. The resurrected Lord declares that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. Death has been conquered, victory is complete, and the Church's task now begins. Jesus does not call his disciples to look up at heaven and wait; He sends them. For Christianity is not merely a faith to be kept within oneself. We too have been sent.

This task may not always be easy. For the students also had fears and doubts. But the Lord promises them and us: “I will be with you every day until the end of the world.” That is our strength. We do not walk alone. The resurrected Christ walks with us and supports the Church’s mission. And after giving this teaching, Jesus ascends to heaven.

The apostles were filled with joy upon seeing Jesus ascend to heaven. Why were they happy? Because Jesus' ascension gives us hope that one day we too will go to heaven. One day everything we see will end. There will be no more suffering, war, fighting, arguments, or hardship. All of this will end because we will reach the destination we most long for. We will attain peace that will last forever.

Jesus' ascension to heaven filled his apostles with hope and joy. As we celebrate this feast day, we too should be filled with joy and hope. We should not only admire Jesus' ascension to heaven, but also follow him and turn towards heaven, that is, towards God. May the Ascension of Jesus help us to always strive to be closer to God.

May the Virgin Mary help us to make our path in this world always a path leading to heaven.