Catholic Christian Homily for Next Sunday

Sunday, May 17, 2026 — The Ascension of the Lord, Year A
Homily Title: “Do Not Just Look Up Go Out with Jesus”

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. Jesus, after His suffering, death, and resurrection, is taken up into heaven. But before He ascends, He gives His disciples a mission: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” And He gives them a promise: “I am with you always.”

This is the heart of today’s message:
Jesus goes up to heaven, but He does not leave us alone. He sends us out with power, hope, and mission.

In the First Reading from Acts, the disciples are standing there, looking up into the sky as Jesus ascends. Maybe they are confused. Maybe they are sad. Maybe they are wondering, “Lord, what do we do now?” Then two men in white garments say, “Why are you standing there looking at the sky?”

That question is also for us today.

Many times in life, we stand still. We look at our problems. We look at our pain. We look at our past. We look at closed doors. We look at sickness, family struggles, loneliness, financial pressure, and spiritual tiredness. Sometimes we keep looking up and asking, “Lord, where are You?”

But the Ascension tells us something powerful:
Jesus is not absent. Jesus is reigning. Jesus is interceding. Jesus is still with us.

Let me share a short story.

There was a little boy whose father worked far away in another city. Every Sunday evening, the father had to leave home and return to work. The little boy would cry and hold his father’s hand, saying, “Daddy, please don’t go. I feel alone when you leave.”

One evening, before leaving, the father gave his son a small cross and said, “Whenever you feel alone, hold this cross and remember: even when you do not see me, my love is still with you. I am working for you. I am thinking of you. I will come back.”

The boy kept that cross near his bed. When he felt afraid, he held it. When he missed his father, he held it. Slowly, he understood: love is not gone just because the person is not visible.

Brothers and sisters, this is the Ascension. The disciples could no longer see Jesus the same way they saw Him before. But His love, His power, His presence, and His mission remained with them.

And today, Jesus says the same to us:
“You may not see Me with your eyes, but I am with you always.”

The Second Reading from Ephesians says that God has placed Christ above every power and authority. That means no darkness is greater than Jesus. No sickness is greater than Jesus. No fear is greater than Jesus. No failure is greater than Jesus. No enemy is greater than Jesus. Christ is above all.

So today, we must not live like defeated people. We are people of the Resurrection. We are people of the Ascension. Our Lord is not in the tomb. Our Lord is seated in glory. And from heaven, He strengthens His Church, His people, His servants, and His mission.

In the Gospel, Jesus gives us the Great Commission: Go. Teach. Baptize. Make disciples. This means faith is not only something we keep inside the church. Faith must move from the altar to the street, from prayer to action, from worship to witness.

Every Christian has a mission.

A mother has a mission in her home.
A father has a mission in his family.
A young person has a mission among friends.
A priest has a mission at the altar and among the people.
A chaplain has a mission at the bedside.
A church has a mission in the community.

Your life can preach even before your mouth speaks.

When you forgive someone, you preach Christ.
When you comfort the lonely, you preach Christ.
When you feed the hungry, you preach Christ.
When you pray for the sick, you preach Christ.
When you stand with someone in tears, you preach Christ.

The Ascension is not the end of Jesus’ work. It is the beginning of the Church’s mission.

Today Jesus is telling us:
“Do not only look up. Go out.”
Go out with love.
Go out with courage.
Go out with compassion.
Go out with the Gospel.
Go out and be My witness.

My dear people of God, maybe today you feel weak. Maybe you feel unworthy. Remember, the disciples were not perfect. Some doubted. Some were afraid. Yet Jesus still sent them. God does not wait until we are perfect to use us. He asks for a willing heart.

So let this be our prayer today:

Lord Jesus, when I feel alone, remind me that You are with me.
When I feel weak, give me Your strength.
When I stand still in fear, send me out in faith.
Make my life a witness of Your love.
Make my words healing.
Make my heart compassionate.
Make my church a light for many people.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus has ascended into heaven, but He has not abandoned us. He is with us in the Eucharist. He is with us in the Word. He is with us in prayer. He is with us in the poor, the sick, the broken, and the forgotten.

So today, do not just look up.
Go out. Love someone. Forgive someone. Encourage someone. Bring someone closer to Jesus.

Because the same Jesus who ascended into heaven says to us today:

“I am with you always.”

Amen.