HOMILY FOR THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD, YEAR B. 13.05.2021.

The Ascension

Readings: Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47; Ephesians 4:1-13 and Mark 16:15-20. 

IS BAPTISM SUFFICIENT FOR SALVATION? 

 

In a country like Nigeria where her citizens seems to be hopeless of the future, for those who believe,  we still have recourse to someone who gives us hope as seen in today’s liturgy. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Celebrating Christ’s Ascension to heaven is another form of His presence with us, which gives us hope of eschatology (life after death).

 

The Ascension of Christ into heaven is a holy day of obligation, traditionally celebrated on Thursday as popularly believed that this event took place on a Thursday, forty days after the resurrection of Christ. However, in some parts of the world, this solemnity is celebrated on Sunday in other to enable the faithful working or schooling in non-Catholic/Christian organization or schools have a full participation of it.

 

The Ascension of Christ sustains our hope that one day we shall be where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of the Father. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in her teaching about this Solemnity highlights the following, “That Christ’s Ascension to heaven marks the definitive entrance of his body into the Father’s domain (Acts 1:11). Christ the head of the Church precedes us into his Father’s glorious kingdom, so that we the members of his body may live in the hope of one day being with him forever. He has entered the sanctuary of heaven once and for all, intercedes constantly as the mediator who assures us of the permanent outpouring of the Holy Spirit (665-667).” The Ascension of the Lord is a Solemnity that sets us on a fast track to receive the Holy Spirit because, Christ himself tells us, “If I do not go away, the Counsellor will not come (Jn 16:7).

 

From the first reading, Luke the author of the Acts of the Apostles recounts the events of the last moments and meeting of Christ with the Apostles before his Ascension into heaven. His words to them are, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what the Father has promised, the Holy Spirit.” Furthermore he said, “You shall receive power when the Spirit comes upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” The encouragement and instructions to the Apostles is equally for us. As Christians, we can do nothing without the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit that gives us wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, fortitude, piety and fear of the Lord. “After saying this, as they were looking, he was lifted up to heaven.” This was a fulfilment of today’s Psalm, “God goes up with shouts of joy, the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.”

 

In today’s Gospel, after Christ had commissioned the disciples to “Go into the world and preach the Gospel to all creation, he said, ‘He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe… after he had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.” In Christ’s last statements, he made a promise of salvation and a warning. He did not say condemnation belonged to the person who was not baptized, but to the person who does not believe in Him. Practically, if you are baptized and yet do not believe in the baptism you have received, then there is a fundamental problem. Christ wants us to know that condemnation does not rest on baptism but on disbelieve. More reason the Church urges us to profess our faith at the sacraments (of baptism) and the Holy Mass (I believe). However, it will be terribly wrong to consider baptism as non-essential to salvation, it is essential as Christ commanded it, similar way he commanded the Apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Obedience to his commandment becomes an essential tool for salvation.

 

Also, while Christ commissioned his disciples, he gave them signs that will accompany those who believe. These accompanying signs that signifies Christ has not departed from the Church but constantly present with her. It is an excellent pattern for ministry, first to preach the Gospel of Christ, followed by the signs. Signs are meant to follow believers, not believers following signs. So, if you are fond of following pastors or priests as miracle working men of God, know therefore that your ‘Christianity’ is not in accordance with the teachings of Christ. In view of the above, St. Paul in the second reading urges us to walk in the manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called.

 

Dear friends in Christ, today’s celebration reminds us that Christ has not departed from us but is always present with us. He gives us a clue that there is life after death, of which He has opened the gates to the kingdom of heaven so that our longing for it will not grow weary. For us to attain this salvation, we must believe in Christ, for our belief is the oil that keeps the flame of baptism burning till He comes again. Peace be with you!

 

Happy Solemnity of Ascension of the Lord! 

Tomorrow begins the Novena to the Holy Spirit.

Fr. Ken Dogbo, OSJ