Homily Ascension: You will be my witnesses

 Homily for Ascension Year A 2026

Introduction

Today, as we celebrate the feast of the Ascension, we find ourselves in that holy “in-between” time—between the joy of Easter and the coming of Pentecost. Jesus has risen from the dead, and now he returns to the Father. But before he ascends, he gathers his disciples one last time and entrusts his mission to them.

Sometimes the Ascension can feel like the forgotten feast. We all know Easter: Jesus rises from the dead. We all know Pentecost: the Holy Spirit comes upon the apostles. But Ascension sits quietly in between, and people can wonder: what exactly are we celebrating today? Are we celebrating Jesus leaving us?

Actually, no. The Ascension is not about Jesus abandoning the Church. It is about Jesus entrusting his mission to the Church. It is the beginning of a new chapter—the age of the Church.

Scripture and Theology

And so in today’s Gospel Jesus gives what we call the Great Commission:

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

These are among the very last words Jesus speaks before ascending to the Father. They are not casual words. They are his final mission and also his final promise.  Let us examine this commission to see the message that Jesus has for us.  We hear Jesus speak of three things: going, baptizing, and teaching.

First, going. The Christian faith is not something we lock up inside the church building. The Church is missionary by her very nature. The apostles cannot remain standing on the mountain staring into the sky after Jesus ascends. They must go out into the world.

Sometimes God calls people to leave their homes and travel far away as missionaries. The faith came to Uganda because missionaries left their own countries and brought the Gospel here, starting with Brother Amans and Father Lourdel, also known as Father Mapeera.  But most of us are called to witness much closer to home—in our families, our villages, our schools, our workplaces, our markets, and our neighborhoods. That is where we must go, especially after the priest at the end of Mass tells us, “Go forth” or “Go in peace.”

And notice also what Jesus tells them to do when they go: “Make disciples.”  He does not simply say, “Increase numbers,” or “Make members.” He asks that they make disciples.  A disciple is someone who follows Jesus, learns from him, and slowly becomes like him. The mission of the Church is not simply to fill churches, but to help people truly live the Gospel and enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, as our born-again brethren often emphasize.

Second, baptizing. As missionaries, the disciples must baptize.  For it is through baptism, that people become disciples; that people are brought into the very life of God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is not simply a cultural ceremony or a family celebration. It is a new birth into the life of Christ and membership in his Church.  From baptism flow many other sacraments and graces that help the disciple to make it to heaven.

And third, teaching. We don’t make disciples only through the sacraments; we must also teach them.  Jesus says: “Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.” The apostles must pass on what they have seen and heard from Jesus to others.  That is what they are sent to go and do.  They do this, not simply teaching with words, but teaching through witness. Because people often learn the faith not only from catechism books and sermons, but from seeing Christians whose lives are different, whose lives are like that of Jesus Christ.

And that brings us to the first reading from Acts. The disciples still do not fully understand. When Jesus gathers them for the ascension, they ask: “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

In other words, they are still thinking about power, success, and visible victory. Perhaps they imagine that now they are finally going to receive positions of honor and importance after all their sacrifices, the way people celebrate when they finally attain positions of authority and prestige, like our MPs last week.

But Jesus shifts their attention away from status and power, toward mission. He says to them: “You will be my witnesses.”

A witness is someone who has seen something and therefore cannot remain silent. In our communities, after an accident on the road or a dispute at the trading center, people immediately ask: “Who saw what happened?” The witness is important because he speaks from experience.

The apostles were witnesses because they had lived with Jesus. They heard him preach. They saw him heal the sick, forgive sinners, and raise the dead. They witnessed his suffering and crucifixion. After encountering the risen Lord, they could never remain the same.

And now Jesus sends them out—not as celebrities or powerful rulers, but as witnesses, to share what they have seen and heard.

My brothers and sisters, the Ascension is not graduation day for the apostles. It is commissioning day. Jesus is essentially saying to them: “I have begun the work. Now you must continue it.”

It is a little like a relay race during school sports day. One runner completes his part and hands the baton to the next runner. Christ has completed his earthly mission, and now he places the baton into the hands of the Church.  And notice: he does not place it only into the hands of the rich, the educated, or the powerful. He entrusts it to ordinary believers willing to be faithful.

But Jesus does not simply hand us the baton and disappear.  He equips the Church in three important ways.

First, he teaches. For three years the apostles lived with him. They learned not only from his words, but from his example of prayer, humility, compassion, and self-sacrifice.

Second, he promises the Holy Spirit. The Church does not carry out her mission by human strength alone. Left to ourselves, we become fearful, tired, discouraged, and divided. But the Holy Spirit gives courage, wisdom, and perseverance.

And third—and this is very important—Jesus remains with us. The final words of today’s Gospel are: “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” That promise changes everything. Because if the mission depended only on our own strength, the Church would have disappeared long ago. But Christ continues to guide, strengthen, and sustain his people.

When we profess in the Creed that Jesus “is seated at the right hand of the Father,” sometimes we imagine him simply resting there far away from us. But the Ascended Christ is not inactive.  Even now, he continues his work as our High Priest. He intercedes for us before the Father. He continues to unite us to his sacrifice.

That is why every Mass is so important. When we gather around this altar, we are not praying alone. Christ himself draws us into his perfect offering to the Father. Every Eucharist strengthens the Church for mission.

Christian Life

My brothers and sisters, many people think witnessing means doing extraordinary things or becoming famous saints. But most Christian witness happens quietly in ordinary life.

·        A mother who wakes up before dawn to prepare children for school and still finds time to pray—that is witness.

·        A father who refuses corruption even when money is tight—that is witness.

·        A catechist who teaches faithfully every Sunday without recognition—that is witness.

·        A nurse who treats patients with patience and compassion—that is witness.

·        A student who refuses to cheat in examinations—that is witness.

·        An elderly grandmother praying daily for her family—that is witness.

These things may seem small in the eyes of the world, but they preach the Gospel powerfully.

The apostles took their mission seriously. They preached the Gospel not only in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, but eventually to the ends of the earth.  That is why we know Jesus today even here in Mbale. The faith reached Africa because generations of Christians accepted the baton and handed it on faithfully.

Conclusion

The baton of faith has now reached us. The question of Ascension is therefore very simple: What will we do with it?

Today Jesus says once again to each one of us: “Go … make disciples … teach … and remember that I am with you always.”

May we receive that mission with courage and humility. And strengthened by this Eucharist, may we go forth as faithful witnesses of Christ—in our homes, our communities, and our world.