The Ascension of the Lord
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. We see two accounts of the Ascension in today’s first reading from St. Luke’s Book of the Acts of the Apostles, as well as in today’s Gospel reading from St. Luke’s Gospel. The Ascension leads to the praise of God, to worship, as we see for example in today’s Gospel reading where the disciples are continually praising God in the Temple.
In many ways, the Ascension of the Lord is an important part of the journey to Pentecost within the Easter season. We will celebrate the Feast of Pentecost next Sunday. In the beginning of Easter, and particularly during the Octave, the focus is on Jesus’ resurrection. Later in the Season, particularly these last few weeks, we focus in the Liturgy on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and especially upon the gift of the Spirit itself. The Lord’s glorious Ascension into heaven is an important part of Jesus’ life. He has been killed, He has risen from the dead, and He has taught His apostles further, while He remained with them prior to His ascension. After His ascension, as today’s optional second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews makes clear, Jesus reigns in heaven not only as king but He also ministers there as our high priest.
But it is the ascension that helps propel the disciples into ministry. The filling with the Holy Spirit, which comes upon the apostles at Pentecost, is an essential component to their being propelled into ministry, and even earlier, Jesus sent them out, two-by-two, prior to His passion and death, to extend His own ministry among the towns and villages of Palestine. But in His last words to them immediately before His ascension, Jesus tells them that they will receive the Holy Spirit, which occurs later at Pentecost, and He informs them that then they will be His witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and throughout the rest of the world (Acts 1:8). This too is our mission.
For the rest of this week, in preparation for Pentecost and the resuming of Ordinary Time, let’s prepare ourselves in prayer, for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Let’s pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance as to how we best can be witnesses to Jesus in our little corner of the world. It is the Holy Spirit Who will empower us to bring Jesus to others, especially to those whom we encounter on a day-to-day basis. Inspired by the Lord’s Ascension, let us strive to be better witnesses of Christ, in our thoughts, words, and most importantly, by our actions.
- Jeff Morrow