The Ascension of the Lord – Sr. Everlene Nekesa, SNDdeN
May 14, 2026
Matthew 28: 16-20
Growing up as an African, my understanding of life and the spiritual world has been shaped by both my cultural traditions and my Christian faith. In my culture, going to heaven isn’t usually seen as physically rising up to some faraway place. Instead, it’s understood more as a transition; a change in one’s state and relationship with the spiritual world. The spiritual realm isn’t distant or separate from everyday life. It’s close, present, and always interacting with the world we live in. What comes closest to the idea of ascension is becoming an ancestor. Becoming an ancestor isn’t automatic; it depends on how one lived: with integrity, respect, and responsibility in the community. Ancestors, spirits, and even the divine remain near, and continue to be part of the life of the living, guiding and influencing everything in meaningful ways.
Forty days after Easter Sunday, as described in the Acts of the Apostles (1:1–11), the disciples watched as Jesus was taken up into heaven, they watched as He was lifted up and taken from their sight. At first, it may have felt like a moment of separation or loss, and perhaps unsure of what to do next. Then two angels gently redirect them, reminding them that their task is not to remain staring at the sky, but to move forward.
The Ascension is not about Jesus leaving humanity; rather, it marks the continuation of Jesus’ mission through His followers. In this gospel passage, we have the Greatest Commission, it shows that even though the disciples believed in Jesus, some of them still struggled with doubt just like many of us do today. Even so, Jesus didn’t reject them or wait for them to be perfect. He still entrusted them with a mission, “Go and make disciples of ALL NATIONS.” This message implies that the mission of Jesus is not just personal. It has to be lived out and shared with everyone, with every race, and bring others into faith. The most comforting part is that Jesus promises to always be with His followers. That assurance gives each believer strength and confidence in fulfilling the mission, even when we feel afraid or unsure.
For us, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, this invitation speaks directly to our vocation. Our faith is not only about following Christ, but about sharing in His mission entrusted to us through Saint Julie Billiart. Whether through teaching, healthcare, pastoral ministry, communication works, or prayer, we are sent to bring God’s goodness, love and hope into the world. We may sometimes feel inadequate or unsure of ourselves, but the Ascension reminds us to look beyond the sky and recognize that Christ is present in our daily lives, joys, and struggles. The Ascended Lord is guiding and strengthening us to carry on and invite others to share and proclaim God’s goodness.
Matthew 28: 16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Meet Sister Everlene Nekesa, SNDdeN
