The
Ascension of the Lord, Year A - May 17, 2026
Acts
1:1-11; Eph 1:17-23; Mt 28:16-20
Theme: Jesus’ Ascension is not a Farewell but a Commission
A. A Brief Exegetical Analysis of Mt 28:16-20
- Historical and Literary Contexts
This Gospel narrative is divided into two sections: the disciples’
arrival and their reaction upon seeing the Risen Jesus (vv. 16-17), and Jesus’s
commissioning words to them (vv. 18-20).
- Detailed Analysis
Vv. 16-17. The eleven disciples encountered Jesus on the mountain of
Galilee (v. 16), as the angel of the Lord (28:5-7) and the risen Jesus himself
(28:10) had instructed the women to tell them. The number “eleven” (not twelve)
recalls Judas Iscariot’s tragic death (see 27:3-10). The mountain is mentioned
here, but not in 28:5-7 and 28:9-10 when the women received instructions from
the angel of the Lord and Jesus. The meaning of the mountain here is more
theological than geographical, alluding to God’s revelation to Moses on Mount
Sinai (Ex 24:12-18).
Matthew depicts the disciples as experiencing two conflicting feelings
when they saw Jesus: “they worshiped, but they doubted” (v. 17, NABRE). He
similarly portrayed the women when Jesus appeared to them, stating they were
“fearful yet overjoyed” (see 28:8). In our passage, it remains unclear whether
all the disciples doubted or just some of them because the New Revised Standard
Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) refers to “some of them,” while the
translation of the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) suggests “all of
them.” It is also uncertain whether their doubt was directed at Jesus’
Resurrection or their act of worshiping him. The Greek verb used for “doubt” is
δισταζω (distazo), which means “to hesitate,” “to waver,” or “to be uncertain
about something.” The “doubt” here does not equate to a complete lack of belief
but represents a normal human emotion of hesitation. It is important to note
that the disciples had not yet received the Holy Spirit; they were processing
Jesus’ appearance through their normal human feelings. Thus, their worship of
Jesus reflects both their faith and joy, albeit intertwined with doubt.
Vv. 18-20. Jesus reveals to his
disciples that God has given him all power in heaven and earth. He uses this
universal power to commission them (v. 18). The commissioning words contain two
commands. (1) “Go:” This first command suggests that the disciples must move
from place to place in their mission. (2) “Make” disciples of all nations: The
disciples' mission consists of transforming people into Jesus’ disciples.
Baptism in the name of “the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” is the
entrance door to becoming Jesus’ disciples (v. 19b). The observance of Jesus’
commandments is the way of life for the new disciples (v. 20a). Jesus reassures
his disciples that he is permanently with them, assisting them during their
mission until the end of the age.
In addition to baptizing people, Jesus instructs his disciples to
teach all nations to observe everything he has commanded them. There are three
key lessons here. First, this command assumes that the disciples must know
exactly what Jesus taught and commanded before teaching it to others.
Second, Jesus asks his disciples to teach people to observe not what
they want or what others want to hear, but what he has commanded. In other
words, the disciples are called to teach God’s Word, regardless of whether they
or the people like it. Jesus is asking them not to change his teachings to
please others, but to change the people (“Make disciples of all nations”) to
please God. So, the disciples’ mission is to preach the truth and condemn evil,
regardless of who commits it or the circumstances in which it is committed.
Wrong is wrong, and truth is truth.
Third, in this mission, Jesus asks the disciples not just to teach the
people what he has commanded, but specifically to teach them to “observe” it.
The focus here is on the verb “to observe.” Teaching people without calling
them to observe Jesus’ commandments means they will simply “know about God,”
but they will not “know God.” With “knowing about God,” there is no
transformation in them. Teaching them to “observe” Jesus’ commandments implies
conversion, transformation, and discipleship.
- Synthesis
The disciples meet the Risen Jesus in Galilee. They worship him while
experiencing doubt. Jesus commissions them with the universal power God has
given him. The disciples’ mission is to go and make disciples of all nations.
Baptism in the name of “the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” marks the entrance
into becoming Jesus’ disciples, and adhering to Jesus’ commandments shapes
their lifestyle. There are three key lessons in this mission. First, the
disciples should understand and master what Jesus has commanded them before
they go out and teach. Second, they are called to teach not what they or the
people want to hear, but what Jesus commanded. Third, the focus is not on
teaching theory but on practice: “observing” what Jesus commands. Then, Jesus
reassures his disciples of his permanent presence throughout their
mission.
B. Pastoral Implications
- Liturgical Context
We have witnessed all of Jesus’ events from Christmas and its
preparatory season, called Advent, to Easter and its preparatory time, known as
Lent, passing through the first part of Ordinary Time, during which we have
experienced Jesus’ ministry in establishing the kingdom of God on earth. Now is
the time to work. The Scripture readings we heard remind us of the profound
significance of this celebration. The Ascension of our Lord is not a moment of
reward, as the disciples mistakenly believed in our First Reading. Instead, as
the Gospel instructs us, the Ascension is when our Risen Lord sends us on a
mission. To fully grasp the urgency of this mission and be empowered to carry
it out wherever we are, the Second Reading tells us that we need the Spirit of
wisdom and revelation that results in knowledge of God.
- What the Church Teaches Us Today
Our Holy Mother Church teaches us that Jesus continues to command us
to meet him on the “Mountain of our Galilee,” our local Church, as he did to
his disciples. We should respond to Jesus’ invitation not like the disciples of
our first reading, but like those in our Gospel. In our first reading, the
disciples’ motivation was not discipleship but the overturning of Roman power.
They express their mind through their question: “Lord, are you at this time
going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (v. 6). Our motivation for being
Christians should not focus on what Jesus can do for us but on what we can do
for him and his Church in the mission he has left us. Let us not decline Jesus’
invitation to meet him on our “mountain of Galilee,” our local Church, where our
Risen Lord always waits for us in the Eucharistic celebration.
Matthew depicts the disciples experiencing two conflicting feelings
when they saw Jesus: they worshiped him but doubted (v. 17). What can we learn
from this? This part of the Gospel teaches us that our doubt should not equate
to a total lack of faith. Even in our darkest moments, we must believe that our
Risen Lord is truly present when we call upon him. Our human emotions of doubt
or fear should not prevent us from coming to Church, worshiping him, and
serving him and God’s people. Let us always have faith in Jesus, no matter what
we go through.
Jesus commissions his disciples, utilizing the full authority that God
bestowed upon him. “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (V.
18). This power is universal (in heaven and on earth), and God is the giver.
Since Jesus’ power is universal, he also gives his disciples and us a universal
mission: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” The disciples and
all of us should do two things to help people of all nations become Jesus’
disciples. The first thing is to baptize them in the name of the Triune God.
Jesus has entrusted this mission to the Church. As the open door to all the
sacraments, baptism is the foundation of Christian life. Through baptism, we
become Jesus’ missionaries, called to go forth to our families, neighborhoods,
and everywhere we live to make others Jesus’ disciples.
In addition to baptizing the people, Jesus asks his disciples and all
of us to teach others to observe all that he has commanded us. There are three
essential lessons to learn here. First, this command presupposes that we must
know precisely what Jesus taught and commanded us before teaching it to others.
We cannot teach what we do not know. How and where can we learn Jesus’
teachings? Jesus teaches us in the Eucharistic celebrations. At each Mass we
attend, we first listen to him speak to us through the Scripture readings
before receiving him in Holy Communion. The liturgy of the Mass is the best
moment to learn what Jesus commands us to teach others. In addition to the
Mass, we should also become familiar with the Bible. Jesus speaks to us when we
read, study, meditate, share, and pray with the Word of God, communally or
individually. Therefore, I encourage you to participate in the Liturgical
Weekly Bible Study I teach, both virtually and in person, every Monday at 6:00
p.m. US Central time (Zoom Meeting ID: 836 4516 5259 and the password: Bible).
This Bible Study helps participants deeply understand each Sunday's Bible
readings before attending Sunday Masses.
Second, Jesus asks his disciples and all of us to teach the people to
observe not what we want or what the people want to hear, but what he has
commanded us. The Church has a mission to teach God’s Word, regardless of
whether the people like it or not. Jesus asks us not to change his teaching to
please the people, but to change the people (“Make disciples of all nations”)
to please him. We are called to preach the truth and condemn evil, regardless
of who commits it or the circumstances in which it is committed. Wrong is
wrong, and truth is truth.
Third, in this mission, Jesus asks us not simply to teach the people
what he has commanded us but precisely to teach them to “observe” what he has
commanded us. The focus here is on the verb “to observe.” Teaching people
without calling them to observe Jesus’ commandments means they will simply
“know about God,” but they will not “know God.” With “knowing about God,” there
is no transformation in them. However, teaching them to “observe” Jesus’
commandments implies conversion, transformation, and discipleship. Sadly, many
Christians neglect this critical aspect. With good intentions, they have
learned “about Christianity” but not “how to live the Christian life.’ Many
have learned about prayer, but not how to pray. Many have been told that they
should go to Mass, but not how to attend Mass actively and intentionally. Jesus
is asking us to teach the people, not the theories, but the practice of his
teachings. Swimming is how a person learns to swim. By observing Jesus’
teaching, people learn and become Jesus’ disciples.
We do not undertake this
mission alone. Jesus reassures us of his permanent presence: “And behold, I am
with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28:20). Additionally, Saint
Paul states in our second reading that with the Holy Spirit, the eyes of our
hearts will be enlightened, and we will come to understand the deep meaning of
our call as the witnesses of Jesus (Eph 1:18). Our Lord is always with us. His
Holy Spirit sustains us in our mission. In our first reading, Jesus instructs
his disciples not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father,
the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). Next Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, we
need to gather here in our Church and experience the Holy Spirit, who will
renew all the gifts and graces we received at our Baptism and Confirmation.
With this renewal of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to carry out the mission
of becoming witnesses of Jesus and making disciples of all people around us.
So, I highly encourage all of us not to miss that Mass.
We pray that the liturgy of this Mass enables
us to carry out Jesus’ mission wherever we live. Amen.
Fr. Leon Ngandu, SVD
Pastor of Holy Family Church in Jackson, MS &
SVD-USS Biblical Apostolate Coordinator
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