Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ
Today we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ and today's readings all point out this glorious solemnity while emphasizes the importance of witnessing to our risen Lord. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11, Jesus tells his disciples and the apostles to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. In the gospel reading from Luke 24:46-53, Jesus reminds his disciples who were witnesses to his suffering, death and resurrection for repentance and forgiveness of sins to preach in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. St. Paul in the second reading from his letter to the Ephesians 1:17-23 enumerates to us those who are called to be witnesses of Christ in the world - one who has the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know God better; one whose heart is enlightened to know the hope to which they have been called to serve God, one who has the riches of his glorious inheritance in heaven. So we are all called by Christ to be his true witnesses in the world, but have we truly witnessed to him in our world today? How do we witness to Christ in the world?
Witnessing in the English dictionary is explained as a person or thing giving or serving as evidence to events or facts with his/her own knowledge. It is the act of attesting to the genuineness of something or an event. Christian witnessing means the act of sharing our heartfelt faith in Christ by expressing and pointing out what He has personally done in our lives and how He has changed our lives. So to witness to Christ, we have to be examples of Christ to others in thoughts, words and actions. We have to show, share and proclaim the genuineness of God’s love for us. We have to share our faith in God by acknowledging His blessings, graces and mercies upon us, expressing those gifts we have received from Him and bringing people to say 'yes' to Him like we have done in our lives.
My dear brothers and sisters, let us pray in today’s Eucharistic celebration that we may be strengthened to be true witnesses of Christ in our world today.
