The Ascension of the Lord

CLICK HERE for the Audio recording of the Readings of
May 21st, 2020, The Ascension of the Lord.

CLICK HERE for the Readings of May 21st, 2020, The Ascension of the Lord.

The Ascension of the Lord is Thursday, May 21st, 2020.  -  Holy Day of Obligation.  

"...you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.

Acts of the Apostles 1: 8-9

The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ occurred forty days after the Resurrection of the Lord on Easter Sunday.  
At His Ascension, the Lord Jesus ascended Body and Soul into heaven (Luke 24: 50-53; Acts of the Apostles 1:9-11).  

The Ascension took place in broad daylight on the Mount of Olives, in the presence of His Apostles and disciples.

“Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?"...
 Acts of the Apostles 1: 11


We are Trusted
 

There is a time for everything, a time to laugh and time to mourn, a time to gather and a time to scatter….
These words from the book of Ecclesiastes are very popular for Readings chosen by many families during funeral masses.  I usually will ask by show of hands if everyone in the room really believes that there is a time for everything; and usually 100% rise their hands. 
 
The feast of the Lord’s Ascension that we celebrate today literally means a ‘time for departure’.  As Jesus came, was born, lived, preached and healed, spread the word of God in Action, he suffered and died, rose again, today we remember his day (time) of departure.  
But unlike many departures that are typically sad and unhappy, this time of departure is NOT SAD at all.  It is a departure that MUST HAPPEN according to God’s plan, and there is a BONUS in Jesus' departing- for in RETURN, God now TRUSTS the disciples with his mission, to continue the work of Jesus on earth.

It is a time of passing on the baton (if you will).  It is moment and time for a new start and moment of new hope and therefore, Joy. 
The Disciples are trusted by God. God takes the disciples (us) SEROIUSLY, to entrust us (disciples) with his mission. 
We, all in our daily lives, do not just throw around our trust.  We think twice about whom to give our trust. Jesus does the same and does not hesitate to give us this responsibility.  And, of course, he promises his presence in the person of the Holy Spirit, who will walk and journey with us.
 
 
With what again does Jesus trust his disciples (us) with?

The Gospel has told us:
Jesus had ordered them…"All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”  (Matthew 28:18-19)

Jesus trusts the disciples to continue the work that He began and accomplish it by the way they live their lives, by their witness of Actions and words. 
And he adds: “Behold, I am with you always until the end of time”. (Matthew 28:20)
 
If we truly believe in God, why doubt that we can truly change our world as Christians?  If we know that we have been trusted, what makes us hesitate?  If God is with us, what do we have to fear? 
 
Let us pray in a special way now that our public liturgies are going to begin, our gatherings at Mass that we thirst, may give ‘results’ of a new thrust of the mission of Jesus, that we demonstrate our gratitude only by the way we live like Jesus in the world and spreading his Gospel by our lives.
 
A Blessed Ascension!
Fr. Anthony