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Ascension of the Lord
17 May 2015
| First reading |
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| Acts 1:1-11 © |
In my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning until the day he gave his instructions to the apostles he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. He had shown himself alive to them after his Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days he had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God. When he had been at table with them, he had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised. ‘It is’ he had said ‘what you have heard me speak about: John baptised with water but you, not many days from now, will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’
Now having met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, has the time come? Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth.’
As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two men in white were standing near them and they said, ‘Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there.’
Now having met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, has the time come? Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth.’
As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two men in white were standing near them and they said, ‘Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there.’
| Psalm |
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| Psalm 46:2-3,6-9 © |
God goes up with shouts of joy the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.
| Second reading | Ephesians 4:1-13 © |
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I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.
Each one of us, however, has been given his own share of grace, given as Christ allotted it. To some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. In this way we are all to come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God, until we become the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself.
Each one of us, however, has been given his own share of grace, given as Christ allotted it. To some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. In this way we are all to come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God, until we become the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself.
| Gospel Acclamation | Mt28:19,20 |
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Go, make disciples of all the nations.
I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.
I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.
Alleluia!
| Gospel | Mark 16:15-20 © |
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Jesus showed himself to the Eleven, and said to them: ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.’
And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven: there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.
And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven: there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.
Reflection
By Theresa Ballo
By Theresa Ballo
In today’s Gospel, Jesus personally gave His last will to the disciples. He commissioned them to walk in His
footsteps and proclaim the gospel. This commissioning comes with a challenge of dealing with persecution,
seclusion and a lot of judgment. However, despite all of these, Jesus promised great things in God’s glory. They
will be able to speak in different languages and cast out demons.
footsteps and proclaim the gospel. This commissioning comes with a challenge of dealing with persecution,
seclusion and a lot of judgment. However, despite all of these, Jesus promised great things in God’s glory. They
will be able to speak in different languages and cast out demons.
Jesus started by saying “go”. This simple word is an indication that we have to remove the mentality that the lost
will come to us and we can just stay from our comfort zone waiting for them to seek our help and healing. And
then that is the time we get to introduce Jesus to them. This is an invitation to let go of our “superhero mentality”
and the attitude of being so self-righteous. Psychology is one with the Church in saying that the last, least and
lost should have to feel loved first. Further, this means that we must be IN the world to influence those who are
OF the world. There is no way to have a “hands off” approach in reaching out to lost souls. We must get to know
people, make personal contacts and build relationship so they can be open to receive Jesus through our reflection
as images of Jesus on earth.
will come to us and we can just stay from our comfort zone waiting for them to seek our help and healing. And
then that is the time we get to introduce Jesus to them. This is an invitation to let go of our “superhero mentality”
and the attitude of being so self-righteous. Psychology is one with the Church in saying that the last, least and
lost should have to feel loved first. Further, this means that we must be IN the world to influence those who are
OF the world. There is no way to have a “hands off” approach in reaching out to lost souls. We must get to know
people, make personal contacts and build relationship so they can be open to receive Jesus through our reflection
as images of Jesus on earth.
It is in this Year of the Poor that we can be a living witness of today’s gospel. Literally being poor mean being
physically and mentally handicapped, sick, crippled, old, ugly or illiterate. Those who always feel alone,
abandoned or rejected are also poor. Even those who find themselves indifferent and hostile are also poor. Being
poor may mean wanting to cry when everyone around is happy, being defenseless against attacks and being
innocent victims of crimes and injustices. The more the society becomes even more digital, the greater the need
to have personal connections.
physically and mentally handicapped, sick, crippled, old, ugly or illiterate. Those who always feel alone,
abandoned or rejected are also poor. Even those who find themselves indifferent and hostile are also poor. Being
poor may mean wanting to cry when everyone around is happy, being defenseless against attacks and being
innocent victims of crimes and injustices. The more the society becomes even more digital, the greater the need
to have personal connections.
Let me share you a real-life inspiring story of a man who sees himself as a woman since he was a child. We were
both 16 when we met. I was a newbie at Catholic Youth Organization in St. Joseph Gagalangin Parish and he
was a seasoned member. Lenard is bubbly and loud yet a humble servant. I can not help laughing each time he
makes candid antics and innocent mispronunciation of English words. He takes every correction lightly. He sings
from the heart and with all effort, like a diva. It does not matter with him whether he would sweep the floor, clean
up a messy table or put newspaper on the wall during major group activities. He is honest and full of big dreams.
Just like any other teenager, he falls in love too, yet he knows his limitations. He never pushes himself on anyone
and yet everyone gets attracted to his personality. He called himself poor though he is very promising. He never
gets tired sharing his dreams and providing a better lifestyle for his family. Then they had to transfer residence
due to his father’s work. I was 24 when I met him again in another CYO activity. A beautiful change happened in
his life. He is now a professional stylist in a posh salon. After they transferred residence, his parents could not
afford to send him to college so he decided to work as a sweeper in a salon. He did it for a couple of years until
he started learning how to use the scissors. Then he saved part of his salary so he can enrol in a short course
about hairstyling and the rest is history. Lenard fought the tide of poverty and society’s stereotyping. He may have
the softness usual for a woman yet with his humility and disposition in life, he is a better than some men I know.
In his subtle way, he keeps paying the grace and blessing forward.
both 16 when we met. I was a newbie at Catholic Youth Organization in St. Joseph Gagalangin Parish and he
was a seasoned member. Lenard is bubbly and loud yet a humble servant. I can not help laughing each time he
makes candid antics and innocent mispronunciation of English words. He takes every correction lightly. He sings
from the heart and with all effort, like a diva. It does not matter with him whether he would sweep the floor, clean
up a messy table or put newspaper on the wall during major group activities. He is honest and full of big dreams.
Just like any other teenager, he falls in love too, yet he knows his limitations. He never pushes himself on anyone
and yet everyone gets attracted to his personality. He called himself poor though he is very promising. He never
gets tired sharing his dreams and providing a better lifestyle for his family. Then they had to transfer residence
due to his father’s work. I was 24 when I met him again in another CYO activity. A beautiful change happened in
his life. He is now a professional stylist in a posh salon. After they transferred residence, his parents could not
afford to send him to college so he decided to work as a sweeper in a salon. He did it for a couple of years until
he started learning how to use the scissors. Then he saved part of his salary so he can enrol in a short course
about hairstyling and the rest is history. Lenard fought the tide of poverty and society’s stereotyping. He may have
the softness usual for a woman yet with his humility and disposition in life, he is a better than some men I know.
In his subtle way, he keeps paying the grace and blessing forward.
There could be times wherein, we as God’s followers, might think that things around us are not happening as
expected but eventually realizations happen. Sometimes we need to go rock-bottom in order to rise above. We
suffer in order to progress. We are challenged in order to develop our skills. We are tested to make our beliefs
even stronger. Lastly, we are discouraged so we can be faithful even more.
expected but eventually realizations happen. Sometimes we need to go rock-bottom in order to rise above. We
suffer in order to progress. We are challenged in order to develop our skills. We are tested to make our beliefs
even stronger. Lastly, we are discouraged so we can be faithful even more.
We have a great God and we can manifest His greatness by being great! God equipped us with all the necessary
skills needed to serve Him. It is still a matter of willingness and obedience to His will that separates us from
realizing all our potentials. There are no excuses. Go out… rise up… and let us all accept our responsibility!
skills needed to serve Him. It is still a matter of willingness and obedience to His will that separates us from
realizing all our potentials. There are no excuses. Go out… rise up… and let us all accept our responsibility!
Prayer
Jesus, you are ever present with our Father. We thank you for entrusting us a mission. May we seek to speak
Your word and Your healing presence to our sphere of influence, to our family and friends and most especially, to
our brothers and sisters who feel least, last and lost at this moment. Amen.
Jesus, you are ever present with our Father. We thank you for entrusting us a mission. May we seek to speak
Your word and Your healing presence to our sphere of influence, to our family and friends and most especially, to
our brothers and sisters who feel least, last and lost at this moment. Amen.
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