B Year, ASCENSION HOMILY, MARK 16:15-20, MAY 12, 2024
1. STORY
Nine-year-old John wanted to see his father’s office. His father would show him the way on the
subway, but John would have to return home on his own as his father had more
work to do. John listened carefully to
his father’s instructions and assured his father he could return home on his
own. After the visit, John was put on
the subway to return home alone. Although
a bit scared, he assured his father he knew the way. Little did John know that his father was in
the next carriage watching his son until he arrived home safely. Although John did not see his father, his
father was watching over his son. Even
though we do not see Jesus, Jesus is with us.
2. GOSPEL, MARK 16:15-20
A. JESUS WAS TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN.
i) Jesus’ work on earth was finished. He had trained his disciples to continue his
work. He ascended into heaven.
ii) Jesus sits at the right hand of God. He has all power to help his disciples.
B. JESUS WORKED ALONG WITH HIS DISCIPLES.
i) Jesus gave his disciples a mission to “Go into the whole world and
proclaim the gospel to every creature.”
ii) Jesus, though in heaven, “worked with them.”
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. JESUS IS WITH US.
Even though Jesus was in heaven, he was with the disciples. Jesus is also with us although we cannot see
him. He is with us in the following
ways.
i) Jesus is with us when we hear the bible preached or we read the
bible.
ii) Jesus is with us when we receive the Eucharist.
iii) Jesus is with us when we pray.
iv) Jesus is with us when we go to confession.
v) Jesus is with us when our Pope or bishop speaks to us.
Although invisible to our human eyes, Jesus is visible to us through our spiritual eyes. That is our faith.
B. JESUS WORKS ALONG WITH US.
Jesus has given us work to do. “Go
into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Jesus works along with us in the following
ways.
i) He gives us a goal. We must
preach the gospel throughout the world. We
are often tempted to think only of our own parish, diocese, or country.
ii) Jesus gives us a message. He
loves us and wants us to share eternal life with him. We have the bible as a source book.
iii) He gives us strength. He
gives us the Eucharist to carry out our mission despite the difficulties we may
encounter, the rejections we may meet, and the failures we may experience. Jesus always works along with us.
4. CONCLUSION
John did not see his father on the subway, but his father was watching
over him. The disciples did not see
Jesus after he ascended into heaven. Though
in heaven, Jesus was working along with them. Today we are not able to see
Jesus with our human eyes but we know by means of our spiritual eyes, our
faith, that Jesus is with us. He works along with us as we
do his work of preaching the gospel throughout the world. We thank Jesus for being with us. We ask him for the strength to carry out this
work.
