During the Easter season we have heard the gospel narratives of the post-resurrection appearance of Christ.  On Easter Sunday he first appeared to Mary Magdalene, who he sent to announce his resurrection to the apostles.  Later that day he appeared to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, however they did not recognize him until they broke bread together.  Then he disappeared from their sight.  That evening Jesus appeared to the apostles and shared food with them.  The following Sunday Jesus again appeared to the apostles.  This time Thomas, absent during the first appearance, was with the apostles.  Jesus rebuked Thomas for his doubts and showed him the wounds of his Passion.  Later Jesus assisted Peter and the other apostles with a miraculous catch of fish after an unsuccessful night at sea.  Paul testified to other appearances of Jesus even to crowds of 500 or more though some of them had died before Paul’s testimony. 

Today we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord Jesus into glory.  The appearances of the Risen Lord were necessary to establish without a doubt in the minds of the first believers that Jesus had in fact overcome death and begun to live a new kind of life.  In Acts of the Apostles Jesus cautions the apostles to wait for the promised Holy Spirit. 

In Matthew’s gospel we are reminded of Jesus' great commission to the apostles to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  To this day the Church continues Christ’s mission to be his presence in the world until the end of time.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ now lives in and through us.

On this Ascension Day, let each of us ask how we are making Christ present to the world in and through us?  Do we demonstrate to those we meet the wisdom of the Spirit and our knowledge of the Lord?  When he comes again for each one of us, will we share in the inheritance of his holy ones?