Departures and Arrivals
Ascension
May 17, 2007

Departures and Arrivals
by Tom Cox

As schooldays near an end, and family closeness (and frustration!) beckons over a long (hot?) Summer, today's Gospel shows us an Ascension. Not the departure gate of an airport with the sounds of jet clawing their way skywards. This is the Mount of Olives, in East Jerusalem; which to this day has a tiny, unadorned chapel of the Ascension, compared to the large Basilica built over Calvary. That is as it should be. Because the Ascension is not an escape from the world but an affirmation of what He has done on the cross.

Schooldays are not a bad parallel either for what takes place on Ascension Day. In every departure of a parent as they leave their offspring off – there is a goodbye but no real leave-taking. The farewell is only temporary. Years later, that same child may well find themselves leaving a now aged and infirm parent in the care of a nursing home. As hearts heave, both child and parent know that again, while there is a goodbye, you have no real leave-taking.

Same for Jesus on Ascension. We find ourselves in the new and frightening surroundings of this life, in a place where we are uncomfortable and often feel ill-equipped to carry on. And yet, we burn the tall new Paschal candle to indicate his closeness, we meet and recognize Him in the breaking of bread, the hearing of the word and hopefully in each other. Hear him bless you and whisper with love “goodbye, no one is leaving, I will send you the Holy Spirit.”

(Comments to Tom at tomascox@eircom.net )