INTRODUCTION
Ascension is one of the earliest Christian festivals dating back to the year 68 CE Ascension Thursday, is celebrated forty days after Easter Sunday and ten days prior to Pentecost.
This is a Holy Day of obligation when celebrated on Thursday in the US. But in many dioceses it has been moved to the following Sunday.
This meaningful feast celebrates Christ’s entrance into heaven and foreshadows our resurrection and glorification in heaven. It also looks forward to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and beginning of the church.
JESUS RETURNS TO THE FATHER
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Before Jesus ascends to the Father, He sends His disciples on mission:
Go therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world” Matthew 28:19.
Jesus comforts His disciples with these words:
… But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth.
…And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, two men stood by them in white garment who said: You men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as you have seen him going into heaven….Acts 1:7-12
REFLECTION
Jesus ascended into heaven by His own power and will come to judge the living and the dead at the end of time by His own power. Jesus is God after all. Jesus is our judge now and forever. We must not judge. Judge not less you be judged in the same manner.
Jesus promises them and us a helper.. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. John 14:16-17 The Holy Spirit inspires us to make good choices and convicts our conscience when it chooses the wrong path. Pray to the Holy Spirit daily.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,
and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, who have taught the hearts of the faithful
by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise
and ever rejoice in his consolation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ascension Thursday should be a day filled with joy and hope that we will one day be resurrected and glorified like Christ.
Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed* we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2
Christ’s Ascension shows us that his work on earth was completed! God had sent Jesus with a very special mission. When that mission was complete – Jesus joined the Father in heaven.
We, all, are called to mission by virtue of our Baptism. . 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.* And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. Matthew 28:19
By Baptism we all have the “mission” of bringing the Gospel message of Jesus to the world, What does my mission look like? How am I fulfilling my mission? What could I do better?
JESUS TAKES HIS THRONE
ASCENSION THURSDAY MASS
God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:
a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:
a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.
God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:
a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9