Saying goodbye is always hard and painful. Yet we know that some goodbyes are necessary if we are to gain something greater than what we leave behind. No pain, no gain. We see this in the goodbyes of children who leave home to pursue higher education, or of parents who go abroad to find a better work and provide a better future for their family.
I remember the deep sadness of my father when he grudgingly allowed me to enter the seminary. He had other plans for me, being the eldest of his children. He was somehow “forced” to accede to my request after a priest-friend of our family succeeded in persuading him to allow me to pursue my vocation.
Fast forward. Fifteen years later, my father came for my priestly ordination and assisted me in putting on the chasuble during the Mass. My mother later told me that it was the happiest moment of my father’s life. Nothing could surpass his joy and pride of being the father of a priest. The inestimable joy I had of being ordained that day was further deepened upon knowing that my father had finally understood and valued my vocation.
This reminds me of the story of Tagore about a beggar who was asked by the king, “What can you give me?” Hesitantly the beggar peered into his pouch of rice collected from a day’s work of begging, picked the smallest grain, and gave it to the king. Later that evening, as he poured the rice into the pot to cook his meal, he found a tiny grain glittering in the candlelight. With deep regret, he could only say, “What a fool I was, if only I had given everything to the king…”
Whatever is given to God is turned into gold, made holy, and returned to the giver as a blessing.
Today we celebrate the feast of the Lord’s Ascension. We commemorate the day when Jesus returns to his Father in heaven after staying for 33 years on earth and accomplishing his mission of saving humankind through his passion, death and resurrection. Before leaving, he bids his apostles goodbye. The apostles are saddened. But the Lord tells them that it is better this way so they will receive the Holy Spirit. Then their sadness will turn into joy.
When the Spirit comes, Jesus will be present in a fuller way though in a different mode. While he was on earth, Jesus’ bodily presence was limited by time and space. He was part of a particular culture and a historical period. After his resurrection and ascension, Jesus transcends these limitations. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is can be present, not only to the apostles, but to all people everywhere and in every age.
Today, he is present in the hearts of all who love him by divine indwelling. “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” (Jn 14:23) He is present in the Eucharist celebrated and in the Word proclaimed. He is present where two or three are gathered in his name. Truly, he is Emmanuel – God with us.
Though the Spirit-Paraclete, Jesus fulfills his promise, “I will be with you until the end of time.” (Mt. 28:20)