The Joy of Ascension

The Ascension of the Lord

02 June 2019

First reading                                                                        Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Second reading                                                        Ephesians 1:17-23

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Gospel                                                                     Luke 24:46-53

Jesus said to his disciples, “So it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are wit

nesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Reflection

By Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

Was there a time in your spiritual journey when you reflected on the phrase in the Creed that says, “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father”? Or are you just like me who recites it robotically? Good thing I was assigned to write the Sunday Gospel reflections for this month of June with the Ascension Sunday as the first topic to ponder on.

The Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord comes forty days after Christ’s resurrection - Easter Sunday - and ten days before the birthday of the Catholic church - Pentecost Sunday. Being sandwiched between the two most celebrated solemnities, Ascension Sunday has oftentimes been taken for granted. This holy day should be filled with as much joy, hope, and peace as Easter and Pentecost.

The beautiful mystery of the Ascension gives us the official guarantee that Jesus Christ is God. He is the beloved Son of the Father, our brother who can intercede for our petitions and ask for forgiveness of our sins if we truly repent. It is the tangible evidence of His teaching that whatever we ask the Father through His name shall be granted. In His Ascension, we were given an eternal advocate to our Father, the great intercessor who understood our sufferings because He himself also experienced the same during His life on earth. The joy of having a true and concrete confidant in heaven is something worth celebrating in the mystery of Ascension.

Another reason to celebrate is that with Jesus Christ’s Ascension, we now have a forever companion. Jesus' absence on earth means that He is alive in our midst in a new way. He is no longer in a specific place in the world as He was before the Ascension. He is now in the lordship of God, present in every space and time, close to each one of us. We can now all say that Jesus is with us. He is there guiding and helping us to discover and live our faith.

Filled with the radiant joys of Ascension, we are also called into mission. As the Lord says in the Alleluia verse before today’s Gospel: “Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world.” So, whatever you do in school, at work, or in your household, do it with love and joy because Jesus is our forever companion to keep us motivated and lift us up when we are tired.

Prayer

Lord, may You always remind us of the joy that the Ascension brings so that we may continue to do things for Your great glory, with confidence in Your forever companionship and intercession. Amen.