Ascension of the Lord into Heaven

Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into Heaven

Seventh Sunday of Easter-Year C

May 12, 2013

Year of Faith

First Reading: Acts 1: 1-11

Psalm 47: 2-3, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: Ephesians 1: 17-23

Gospel Reading: Luke 24: 46-53

Luke, the author of the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, continued telling the story, to his friend and benefactor, Theophilus (cf. Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1ff), meaning a lover of God, about the things Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up into heaven.  In that meeting place, Luke said, where he was about to be taken up, he was with his apostles and disciples and telling them “not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1: 4-5). “And (behold) I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).  But, the apostles did not understand what Jesus said, for their minds and hearts were looking for the liberation of Israel, their country, from the hands of their foreign conqueror – Rome, and for the restoration of their kingdom, a political kingdom like that of King David in the old times, and that the Israelis were in full control of their country.  As what they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”(Acts 1:7).  He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1: 8-9).   

For Jesus, his departure to God his Father in heaven is to send the Holy Spirit upon them and us, and to give witness to all peoples to the ends of the earth about his love, his teachings and preaching and his deeds of forgiveness and new life.  He likewise, strengthens them for their future ministries and apostolates.  Luke continued, “When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight” (Acts 1:10).  “Then he led them (out) as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them.  As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven” (Luke 24:49-51).

Now, that Jesus is gone yet temporarily, with the coming of the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen the apostles and disciples, and we as well to become his hands, his legs, his mouth, his heart, his whole being, his body – the Church, to continue in bringing his message of love, peace, justice and reconciliation to all humankind, and for the integrity of creation, as we are all brothers and sisters in the one family of God his almighty Father and ours – a good news for all humanity and other created beings.  Jesus said in the gospel, “You are witnesses of these things.  Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24: 48, 47).   As his Body, the Church, here on earth, since Jesus Christ left his disciples and us, yet he asked us to do what he wanted from us, that is to continue spreading his words and works.  We have to be his lips in giving blessing, his feet in comforting, his hands in forgiving and sharing, his heart in loving and serving others.  Jesus started the mission of his Father, and we have to complete it, so that the Reign-Kingdom of God will be realized here on earth and in heaven.  Therefore, it is not enough that we are just looking up and staring at the sky doing nothing, and waiting for the coming of the Lord, but to go and announce the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ to the poor, proclaim release to the captives and sight to the blind, give freedom to the oppressed, respect for the dignity of women and for children’s rights, of the integrity of creation, and proclaim the mercy and grace of the Lord.  Also, we have to heal the wounds and needs of the land. The Lord commanded us to go where there is need, where there is injustice, where there is crying, where there is loneliness, etc.   These all things can be done with the help of the Holy Spirit to be sent by God the Father in Jesus’ name, and descended upon the apostles and disciples, and also upon us, in just few days to come. 

Last May 6, 2013, in the Romereports.com, Pope Francis, during the Monday morning's Mass at Casa Santa Marta, was celebrated for employees of the St. Peter's Basilica complex, which are tasked with caring for the works at the Vatican, said: “We should get into the habit of asking ourselves, before the end of the day: What did Holy Spirit do in me? What witness did he give me? Because he is a divine presence that helps us moving forward in our lives as Christians.” The Pope explained that “the Holy Spirit is always there to protect and support each person, and that, without this presence, our Christian lives cannot be understood.”

Prayer and blessing:

May Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, bless us, too, “as he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.  They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God (Luke 24: 51-53).  “While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.  They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven” (Acts 1:10-11).  So too, with that reminder, we may continue his words and deeds to the ends of the earth and until the end of time, until he returns again in glory.

Question(s) for Reflection:

1.  What do you understand about the significance and/or importance of the Ascension of the Lord into heaven?

2.  How do you prepare yourself when the time comes to be left alone by your loved one? 

3.  How do we accept the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives?