No Way But Up

Seventh Sunday of Easter
04 May 2008


First reading: Acts 1:1 - 11
In my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and I 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.’

Second reading: Ephesians 1:17 - 23
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. This you can tell from the strength of his power at work in Christ, when he used it to raise him from the dead and to make him sit at his right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named not only in this age but also in the age to come. He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation.

Gospel: Matthew 28:16 - 20
The eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’

Reflection
By Pietro S. Albano

"There is no way, but up."

That is why we as humans never grow tired of working hard to ensure that we reach our goals be it getting rich, being promoted, etc. Jesus Himself reached His aim of going back to the Father, which we celebrate this Ascension Sunday, but not without undergoing the pain and sorrow of the cross. Same with us, the triumphs we now enjoy would have been impossible to achieve without the untold sacrifices we have made.

"There is no way, but up."

Jesus' Ascension calls us to keep on going up. Now that we have been saved by His blood, there's no other course of action but to do what He has done, to adhere to what He has commanded, to go and "make disciples of all the nations", and finally to share in His glory.

"There is no way, but up."

As Christians, there is no excuse for us to be laid back. It's unfair to leave our faith to priests, nuns, and elders. Like the rest of our brothers and sisters who have took Jesus' call on board, let us also roll up our sleeves and do our part in bringing all creation under His reign today.









Lord the light of light is shining
In the midst of the darkness shining
Jesus, Light of the World, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth You now bring us
Shine on me.
Shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine.
Fill this land with the Father's glory.
Blaze, Spirit, blaze.
Set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow.
Flood this land now with grace and mercy.
Send forth Your Word, Lord
And let there be light!