St. Pius X Roman Catholic Parish

Ascension Sunday

A great many things happened when Christ ascended into Heaven—far too many to cover in one homily. But one thought occurred to me the other day that I doubt we consider very often. In the span of just fifty-three days, Jesus left His disciples behind to fend for themselves not once, but twice.

The first time was when He died on the Cross on Good Friday. The night before, after the Last Supper, He gave an emotional farewell to His Apostles. In this instance He was gone a total of three days, appearing after His Resurrection first to Mary Magdalene in the garden.

Today we celebrate the second time Jesus leaves His Apostles and the whole world, as He ascends back to the Father in Heaven. This time, however, there is no emotional farewell, and we are still waiting for Him to return.

The important difference between these two departures of Jesus lay in the reaction of the Apostles. On Holy Saturday—that long day between the Death of Christ and His Resurrection—they were filled with a “now what?” attitude. Remember the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. No doubt they, and all the disciples of Jesus, were wondering, “Now what?” as they tried to absorb the loss of their Savior.

But today, I would like to think that the Apostles, rather than being filled with a “now what?” attitude, were instead filled with a “what now?” attitude. That is a huge difference in outlook, a great leap of faith they could not make when Christ lay in the tomb on Holy Saturday. The difference between Holy Saturday and the Ascension is the Resurrection. The Resurrection gave the Apostles and disciples a hope they had never known before: the hope of their own rising to glory as they follow their Head, Jesus Christ.

On the day of the Ascension, then, the Apostles were not standing there with the defeated spirit of Holy Saturday, as if everything had ended once again. Because they had seen the Risen Lord, their question had changed. It was no longer simply, “Now what?” but rather, “What now?” What now must we do? Where now must we go? How now must we wait for the Promise of the Father? And how now must we begin to live as witnesses of the risen and ascended Christ?

And I think the difference between “now what?” and “what now?” is just as important for us as it was for the Apostles. I am afraid that many of us are living today in a state of “now what?” when we should be, and by grace can be, living in a state of “what now?”

A “now what?” attitude is discouraged, confused, and passive; it stares at the loss, the uncertainty, or the burden in front of us and quietly wonders how we will go on. A “what now?” attitude, by contrast, is faithful, courageous, and ready to move; it accepts that life may be difficult, but it also asks what God is calling us to do next. One attitude folds in on itself, while the other leans forward in trust. One sounds like resignation, but the other sounds like discipleship.

For example, when a family is strained, a “now what?” attitude says, “Everything is falling apart”; a “what now?” attitude says, “How can I be the first to forgive, to listen, and to love better?” When a person is burdened by illness, grief, or disappointment, “now what?” sits down in despair, but “what now?” asks, “Lord, how do You want me to carry this cross with You today?” And when we look at the confusion of the world or the weakness of the Church, “now what?” throws up its hands, while “what now?” asks how we can pray, witness, serve, and remain faithful right where God has placed us.

Faithful, courageous, and ready to move: be honest with yourself—does this sound like where you live today? Or have you, perhaps without even realizing it, slipped into that tired and discouraged “now what?” frame of mind? Have you begun to look at your burdens, your disappointments, your family struggles, your sins, or the condition of the world as though the only thing left to do is to sigh and endure? The Ascension of Our Lord tells us otherwise. Christ has not abandoned His Church, and He has not abandoned you. He reigns. He intercedes. He prepares a place for us. And from His throne in Heaven He still gives grace for the next step of fidelity.

That is what the Ascension places before us today: not an excuse to drift, but a summons to act. If Christ has gone before us into Heaven, then we must live as people who know where our life is hidden—with God in Heaven. That means praying when we feel dry, obeying when it is costly, repenting when we have fallen, persevering when we are tired, and lifting our eyes toward Heaven even while our feet remain planted in the duties of earth. A “what now?” soul does not have every answer, but it does know the next faithful step, and it takes that step with confidence in the grace of God.

So perhaps that is the question the Ascension leaves with each of us today: not “now what?” as if Christ were absent and all hope were gone with Him, but “what now?” now that Christ is risen, reigning, and drawing our humanity into Heaven. What now must I repent of? What now must I begin? What now must I endure with patience, or do with love, or entrust more fully to God? If we ask that question sincerely, then the Ascension will not leave us standing still. It will send us forward with hope, until the day when the Lord who ascended before the eyes of His Apostles comes again in glory.