Homily: Ascension of the Lord, YR C
“Do You Long for Heaven”
by Fr. William Holtzinger
May 23, 2004

Today we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord into heaven. He has gone to prepare a place for us. As Christians, we should desire to be in heaven. This world is not all there is in life. If we cling to this life as if it is everything, then we have got a serious problem. I don’t think many of us have even thought of this before. You see, we are not ultimately destined for this world. Jesus is our way, and his life was trying to tell us that we must transcend this world.

As a priest, I have the privilege to talk to people who are dying or near death. Do you know what the saddest situations are for me? You might think it when young people die with so much left undone. While this is truly sad, what makes me more sad are those who grasp, and claw, and scrape for every moment of life as if there was nothing after death. The greatest and most joy-filled are those when people who lived and loved well on earth and are open to soon living and loving in heaven. Yes, it is those who know with their whole being that there is more to life than what we see, and that a reality greater than we can comprehend awaits them. They are grieving their coming death, yes. But they are more full of joy than anyone around them. The Holy Spirit has given them a special gift amidst their suffering. With this view of things, they yearn for heaven. Wow!

Have you ever simply yearned for heaven? It’s not surprising that many of us have not, especially considering the compelling advertising that our culture pours through our televisions as well as the weak images that are provided for heaven. You see, by Jesus’ Ascension, we are being shown what is coming for us all.

When my dad was diagnosed with Lymphoma, he went through the standard treatment. He battled as hard as he could. And I’m proud of him and his fight. But, then came a time, for him, when the prognosis was terminal and the side effects of the medicine became worse than the illness. And so he decided to stop treatment in order to enjoy the days he had left with those he loved. He didn’t fail. He didn’t give up. Rather, he trusted. He handed his life over to God. Recall the Scriptures, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39). In that gesture, his faith was put to the test and he won. The days of his life that remained were more potent than the previous 10. In choosing to accept death, my dad showed us all how to live, and he put himself in the arms of the Lord of the Ascension. He could have fought more. He could have gone to another country or tried all kinds of unorthodox treatments. But, you see, he would have made his life an idol in doing so. He would have committed the gravest of sin.

We too can make life an idol by avoiding death at all costs. Imagine if the saints did that? Imagine if Jesus did that? We are here temporarily. We have been given this chance to live and we are being challenged to make the best of it. But that does not mean that we are to cling to it at all costs.

We are to recognize that we are being given a chance to love and be loved. Jesus had to leave his disciples so that he could give them the Holy Spirit. Their hearts needed to be changed. Instead of having their heads focused on the day to day struggles, his Ascension invited them to raise their hearts to heaven towards the reward that God was preparing for all those who believe. We need to have the same focus. Live your life. Live in faith. Live life to the fullest. But do not lose sight of Jesus and the reality of heaven that awaits those who believe.