The Catholic faithful of St. Theresa’s Funtua gathered on Thursday, 14 May 2026, to celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, commemorating the glorious return of Jesus Christ to the Father after His resurrection.
The Holy Mass commenced with a solemn entrance procession led by Rev. Fr. Reuben Ahmodu, accompanied by the catechist, lay readers, and altar servers.
Liturgy of the Word
The Liturgy of the Word began with the First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 1:1–11. The Responsorial Psalm was taken from Psalm 47, with the response:
“God has gone up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.”
The Second Reading was taken from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians 1:17–23, while the Gospel was proclaimed by Rev. Fr. Reuben Ahmodu from the Gospel according to St. Matthew 28:16–20.
“Christ’s Presence Is Eternal”
In his homily titled “Christ’s Presence is Eternal,” Rev. Fr. Reuben Ahmodu reflected on the abiding presence of Christ in the lives of believers following His Ascension into heaven.
He explained that although Jesus physically ascended to the Father, He did not abandon His people. Rather, Christ continues to remain present in the Church, in the Sacraments, and in the lives of those who believe in Him.
To illustrate this message, Rev. Fr. Ahmodu shared the story of a blind man who received assistance from a kind couple. Through the story, he reminded the faithful that God continues to work through people who demonstrate compassion, kindness, and love towards others.
He emphasised that every act of assistance offered to the helpless and suffering can become a sign of God's presence among His people.
“Go and Make Disciples of All Nations”
Rev. Fr. Ahmodu further reflected on Christ's command to His disciples: “Go and make disciples of all nations.”
He encouraged Christians not to keep the message of Christ to themselves but to become instruments of hope, encouragement, and support to people who are discouraged, abandoned, or helpless.
According to him, the mission of every Christian is to proclaim the Gospel not only through words but also through actions, good example, compassion, and service to others.
He also reminded the congregation of Christ's comforting assurance:
“I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
The priest explained that trusting in God does not necessarily mean knowing what lies at the end of life's journey. Rather, it means having confidence in the One who holds our hands and leads us through every circumstance.
He therefore urged the faithful to remain steadfast in faith even during moments of uncertainty, hardship, and difficulty, trusting that God never abandons His children.
Hope of Eternal Life
Concluding his reflection, Rev. Fr. Ahmodu reminded the faithful of Jesus' promise that He has gone to prepare a place for His people.
He encouraged Christians to remain hopeful in the promise of eternal life and to live their earthly lives in faithful anticipation of being united with God.
The Mass continued with the Prayer of the Faithful, Offertory Procession, Consecration, and Holy Communion, which was received reverently by the congregation.
The celebration concluded joyfully with the Final Blessing imparted by Rev. Fr. Reuben Ahmodu.