Ascension of the Lord
16 May 2010
First reading Acts 1:1-11 3
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.’
Psalm or canticle: Psalm 46:2-3,6-9
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 Luke 24:46-53
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this.
‘And now I am sending down to you what the Father has promised. Stay in the city then, until you are clothed with the power from on high.’
Then he took them out as far as the outskirts of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. Now as he blessed them, he withdrew from them and was carried up to heaven. They worshipped him and then went back to Jerusalem full of joy; and they were continually in the Temple praising God.
Reflection
By Elizabeth R. Eguia
We all prayed for a peaceful and clean election and true enough it happened. People from all walks of life went to their respective precinct polls to cast their votes. Although some got annoyed with the long queues considering it was also a hot and humid day, some were also extremely happy. They were able to cast their votes easily without any problem. People, especially the youth, were vigilant. Volunteers reported their concerns and reported anomalies happening around.
Today we celebrate Christ’s Ascension into heaven. He has instructed His disciples to wait for the promise of the Father as they will be baptized by the Holy Spirit and receive the power from above. We are all asked by the Lord to wait, to be patient just like His disciples. We were all anxious with the first automated election. Speculations of failures to happen seem to cross everybody’s mind. But the good thing that happened was, we all recognized the need for prayer and God’s guidance even at the time when we have doubts. This is the gift of the Holy Spirit residing in us. He has given us the power to believe and make miracles to happen.
Dear God we praise and glorify Your name. We pray that You intercede in us. Send your Holy Spirit to guide us, to clear our doubts, to be patient and to keep on holding to your promise. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit
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