At the Ascension of our Lord, Christ directed the apostles to bear witness to the faith “to the ends of the earth.” In today’s reflection, Ann Marie Szpakowska explores the missionary nature of our lives as Christians.

May 17, 2026: The Ascension of The Lord, Year A
Acts 1:1–11
Psalm 47:2–3, 6–9
Ephesians 1:17–23
Matthew 28:16–20

Not a Spectator Sport

“Anthem –You Have Won the Victory” by William Murphy

Hallelujah! You have won the victory.
Hallelujah! You have done it all for me.
Death could not hold you down.
You are the Risen King.
Seated in Majesty,
You are the Risen King!

Since being assigned the readings for Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord, I have wrestled with identifying appropriate religious “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19). Surely, I thought to myself, that in my vast exposure to religious music, some song would come to mind. Yet, it didn’t. When I stopped looking, the lyrics of a praise and worship song revealed the line, “Seated in Majesty, You are the Risen King.” Hallelujah! This line seems to encapsulate the Ascension of Jesus.

Although the three Synoptic Gospels–Matthew, Mark and Luke–all contain Christ’s Ascension, John’s Gospel has no mention of the event at all. Today’s first reading, taken from the first chapter of Acts and ascribed to Luke, gives us the longest exposition of Christ’s Ascension. While Acts 1 does call for the disciples to become witnesses of Christ “in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,” it is in Matthew 28:16–20 that we hear what became known as the Great Commission: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of Abba God, and of the Only Begotten, and of the Holy Spirit.”

From an early age, I was fascinated by the missionary zeal of both Catholics and other Christians throughout the world who were striving to bring the gospel to everyone. I chose Frances as my confirmation name for Sts Francis Xavier and Frances Cabrini after reading of their lives and works. Missionary religious orders, both here and abroad, impressed me in their endeavors to minister to all, seeing each person as their sister and brother in Christ. Similarly, what has impressed me about our current pope is not that he was born in the United States, but that he was sent to Peru as a missionary. In my lifetime, popes have usually been theologians and professors, Vatican diplomats and officials, heads of dioceses and archdioceses–not missionaries.

But now that we have an Augustinian monk and missionary in Pope Leo XIV, how will he bring changes to the Roman Catholic Church? Surely he is one called to engage the world in the name of Christ. If Vice President J.D. Vance had only suggested that our pope kept out of politics, it would be one thing. But he suggested that Pope Leo has nothing to say about theology and gospel living. How rich of one whose Christian walk as a Catholic entails about six years! It is wiser to enter into a dialogue than a debate.

We, too, both as individuals and as lay members of the Church and Dignity, are invited to proclaim Christ crucified and risen by our very lives. Living the faith is not a spectator sport.  Steeped in Holy Scripture, we understand Jesus’ life from the Incarnation, when he laid aside his crown, to Ascension, when he rejoined Abba God and received it back again. After our earthly lives are over, we pray we will see God face to face.

Ann Marie Szpakowska has been active and in leadership of Dignity/Buffalo for nearly 40 years. She also participates in the Women's Caucus and has been an active contributor to Liturgical planning for Dignity's Conventions Conferences and on Feminist Liturgy Committees over many years. She has presented workshops both locally and at Dignity Conventions.                                      

She has also been a member of St. Martin de Porres parish since 4 inner city churches merged and built a new sanctuary in 1993. St. Martin de Porres is a predominantly African American community in Buffalo New York.