Jesus' Ascension 2010

I have to attend a S3 Parents Day to explain the NSS curriculum and the selection procedure on Sunday. So, I went to the anticipatory mass which was celebrated by Fr. Milanese. His homily could be very critical.

First of all, he explained the differences in the Ascension narratives recorded in the gospel and the Acts by the same author! Why did the same author write two different ascension stories?
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus ascended to heaven on the same day he rose from the dead (Luke 24). The location was Bethany (Luke 24:50).
The same Luke wrote the Acts for the same Theophilus (Acts 1:1). In the Acts, Jesus spent 40 days on earth, appearing to 120 disciples, explaining to them the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). The location of Ascension was Mount Olivet, which is near Jerusalem (Acts 1:13).
Fr. Milanese explained that we cannot take these two books at their face values. They are theological reflections based on some historical events. The events are no longer important. The messages these events convey are. Therefore, the same Ascension story was rendered in two different versions. In theGospel, the Ascension story marks the end of Jesus' ministry on earth. In the Acts, it marks the beginning of the ministry of the Church, her raison d'être.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8).

Why did Jesus tarry for 40 days before leaving? After resurrection, Jesus was already the Lord of the living and the dead. He does not need to spend so much time to get his will done, does he? True. Jesus doesn't need to, but we need to. We are only human and we may not be able to catch Jesus up if he works so fast. After all, the Church is a Church of sinners. Very often, we hear people say that they believe in Jesus, but they do not believe in the Church. Today, Fr. Milanese took issue of this attitude.

Fr. Milanese explained that behind such a statement is an attitude which is based on a wrong religious motive. Modern men are used to obtaining instant gratification: instant coffee, instant noodle and instant pain-killer etc. They want convenience. They don't carry handkerchief or lunchbox any more. In a similar rein, they want a Jesus to solve all their problems, better still, to solve the problems instantly. For these people, believing in Jesus is to obtain instant salvation, to avoid sufferings and to gain advantages. They have no patience for growth and maturity. Therefore, they cannot tolerate a Church in which sinners are slowly transformed and sanctified. These people would be the first to vote with their feet the first minute news of Church scandals breaks out. They believe in Jesus but not the Church.
These people have forgotten Acts 1:8. Jesus has commissioned the Church, however full of blemishes, to bear him witness to the end of the earth. Fr. Milanese ended his homily with a bombshell. "The ugly Church is the true face of Jesus on earth!"

Dear Lord, forgive us for defacing Your holy countenance. Purify Your followers so that Your glorious face may shine forth on earth. Amen.