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The Ascension of Jesus5/14/2026 THE ASCENSION OF JESUS: MIRACLE, MYSTERY OR MAGIC
The homily was presented Thursday May 14, 2026 - Year A St. Vincent de Paul Church, Albany, NY The popular show Penn and Teller: Fool Us challenges audiences to think critically about everything. These modern magicians mix skepticism, comedy and illusion to challenge our perceptions. Beneath the magic they present a philosophy that can be summarized as the pursuit of truth and transparency. It can influence the way we think about a lot of what’s going on around us today. When we try to understand the ascension of Jesus, this age old biblical event, should we consider it as miraculous, or mysterious or a magical act. Have we been fooled by focusing only on the outward appearances of Jesus elevating into the clouds. Magic is the use of rituals or actions based on what is super natural. In Medieval times magic often happened with the help of paranormal beings, secret forces in nature. The presence of angels seems to confirm the divine nature of the ascension. A miracle is an extraordinary event that cannot be explained by natural laws and is often attributed to divine intervention. Jesus turned water into wine, fed thousands with two fish and some bread. He himself was raised from the dead. So was the Ascension another miraculous incident? One that we should just accept on faith? A mystery is something that exists but is beyond full human understanding. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe was a big 18th century influence on literary, political, Christian, and philosophical thought. He suggested: “Mysteries are not necessary miracles.” So what is the Ascension? Mystery, miracle, magic? As it turns out the Ascension of Jesus, that occurred around the year 30 CE, was not so unusual. Ascension stories are found in the Hebrew bible. Enoch, Ezra, Baruch, Elijah, Moses all ascended to heaven after their deaths. The Greek hero Hercules and many others were also lifted up as well. In the annals of Roman history Augustus and Romulus were taken into the clouds. These ascensions, it was thought, had something to do with the deification of a noteworthy person. They were perceived as modalities of divine disclosure or acknowledgement that a person did something significant. But then there is also the cosmological factor. Space travels today (e.g., Artemis II) renders the ancient understanding of the universe obsolete. In the time of Christ the cosmos was perceived as a three part structure. The heavens were above, the earth was in the middle and the underworld was below. So heaven would be separated by a dome filled with perforations through which the stars would shine and rain would pour. Jesus would have had to break through the layer above earth to reach heaven. That understanding of space existed until the 16th and 17th centuries. It was not until then that scientists like Copernicus, Galileo and later Newton discovered that the earth and other planets revolved around the sun. Ok. The Ascension of Jesus was not a new idea. Other notable humans were lifted up to the heavenly realm and the understanding of the cosmos at the time was primitive. What then is the importance of the Ascension for you and me today? The Gospels and other New Testament writings imply the resurrection of Jesus and his exaltation (ascension to heaven) as a single event. So the Ascension story reminds us that the resurrection of Jesus was not an isolated one time event. It continues on and on. In the gospel (Matt 28:16-20) Jesus tells his followers when the Spirit comes upon them they will have the power to make disciples of all nations. That master plan was huge! It was a tall order for the disciples then and for us today as we witness that Christianity is being defined in many ways and is no longer considered the sole influential global religion. There is a tendency for us to perceive and celebrate the events of in the life of Christ as separated calendar occurrences — Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost. If we understood these episodes as an overarching continuum of chapters in a never ending story of salvation history, we can find a way to insert our own callings as Christian disciples into the narrative. Thus the stories are not in the past. We become part of the story, we embody it as our own story, as it continues to unfold today. The second reading (Ephesians 1:17-23) restores our missionary energy. Because of the resurrection of Jesus, our eyes are enlightened and we become more aware of the hope that sustains our mission. When we remember what Jesus taught us we too can rise up help other to do the same and experience the riches of glory. The Ascension -- was it a one-time miraculous, mysterious or magical event? Or, is it a part of the history of salvation, that continues forward with you and me? What do you think?
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Never Alone5/10/2026 NEVER ALONE
This homily was presented at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Albany, NY on March 10, 2026, the Sixth Sunday of Easter - Year A. It is Mothers' Day and at the end of every liturgy all the women in the assembly stood for a blessing. Also, we celebrated six baptisms and four confirmations. All good news. Now the homily ... Recently, I was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the stunning work of the 15th century artist and architect Raphael. Suddenly, in the gallery where I was, a little boy was running around frantically looking for his parents. He was in a panic, lost in a crowd of towering adults, afraid of being alone. His parents soon found him. Studies show that about 12.5% of us, young and old, alike experience a specific fear at one time or another in our lives. It could be long term or just an occasional moment. The best known obsessions are fears of heights, unfamiliar places, strangers, tunnels, and yes, even spiders. Another source of anxiety, less talked about, is auto-phobia, the fear of being alone. That little boy in the Museum experienced that anxiety even for a few moments. In today’s gospel (Jn 14:15-21) Jesus tells his followers he will not leave them alone. According to the text he said “I will not leave you orphans.” In Latin orphan means “without parents. In Greek it means “bereft.” So, how do we understand what Jesus said? This gospel follows the passage about the last meal Jesus had with his disciples. As he looked around he wondered if he could count on them to continue his mission. Some of them were afraid of being left alone by him, bereft without his leadership, his teachings, his love. Jesus reassured them that if they do not forget what he taught them — practice loving kindness to all — they would not be abandoned. They would not have to fear being alone and they would be even more invigorated by the gifts of a holy Spirit. During that meal when Jesus said “do this in memory of me,” he was not only referring to sharing a supper of bread and wine. Those elements already had a meaning for Jews. Jesus identified with the bread of suffering and the cup of redemption and called them his body and blood. We have come to learn that the Christian liturgy was the response to his request. But there is more. Jesus was Jewish and would not have any idea of what a Christian liturgy might be. So when Jesus said “do this” he was asking them to remember, to do, what he did — feed the hungry, be friends with strangers, heal people from their sickness, speak only the truth, condemn corruption. But this would not be an easy task for those disciples. In the Raphael exhibit I was admiring, among his many incredible works, his sketch of Peter and John, who, just coincidentally, are mentioned in today’s first scripture reading.(Acts 8:5-8,14-17). Although the passage reveals that Peter and John were indeed praying for people to receive the holy Spirit, Raphael offered a different picture. He depicted the two disciples as being somewhat afraid of or lacking confidence in their callings. John is shown striking at his chest thinking he is failing in his mission. Raphael shows Peter pushing away with his hands as if to say I cannot do what you want me to do. The commentary suggests that Peter and John admitted the teachings of Jesus were just too much for them to handle alone. Although it is popular in some spiritualities to make Jesus a close friend there is more to the bond. Our relationship with Jesus and his teachings is not a solitary, one-on-one, privilege. Our calling is to be in communion with others — friends, family, strangers, the world we live in. Practicing our religion in the manner that Jesus taught us is urgent. Like Peter and John could Jesus’s commands be too much for anyone of us to handle … alone. Sources tell us that things are not right in this country and around the world. Many people are struggling to survive with dignity. It is not just about the price of gas it is about putting food on the table. It is as if society in general, and some key decision makers, are ignoring the fundamental moral principles we learned as young Christians. When there is no support from government agencies locally and nationally people will have the feeling of being abandoned and left all alone. Pope Leo and many of our bishops, like our own Mark O’Connell, are doing their best to keep us on track. They remind us that there are rights and wrongs. And, like Peter and John who had their doubts, we too are sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We are obliged to go into the public square with renewed energy to advocate a time and place of hope, peace and justice where no one is lost or left alone. Jesus wondered who would continue his work. We ask the same question. Mindful that other faith traditions are doing good work, who will step up to model the Christian creed? We have heard that more people than ever, especially younger generations, joined the Catholic Church this past Easter. Why the new interest? Some sources say people are seeking a religion with a strong foundation amidst unstable circumstances. Others want to avoid the fear of being abandoned in society. Further, the search for solitude and purpose is a new yearning for many. And of course one cannot overlook the mysterious grace of God calling us to do something for others. In the Catholic Church globally, in this country, in this diocese and in this parish people of all ages have come forward to belong to a faith community. This weekend we continue to witness the faith of these believers and we welcome them into our church. Along with them we are entrusted with the responsibilities and traditions of our church. In the long history of Christianity let us be alert to the never ending workings of the Holy Spirit in each of us. As long as we remember the clear teachings of Jesus that focus on love, kindness, and compassion we should never be afraid of being left alone. Sources: https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/raphael-sublime-poetry https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary https://liturgy.slu.edu https://www.hprweb.com/2026/04/homilies-for-may-2026/ |
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