Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

       “A witness is someone who testifies to what he has seen or heard.”

       “A Christian witness is someone who testifies by his action or by his word what the Lord has done for him.”

       I have heard or read these definition many times. We are all called to witness to the Lord, and our actions speak louder than words.   Jerusalem was where the Apostles first received the Holy Spirit. For us, “Jerusalem” is our home. Our family should see Jesus in us through our love, compassion and patience. Judea is the surrounding area of Jerusalem. For us, this represents our neighbor, the people beyond our home who should see the Christian in us.

       Samaria is farther than Judea, and this, for us, represents people beyond our neighborhood with whom we should share the Gospel.

       It seems like a daunting task. But if we begin by doing everything we do for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), it’s a great start to being a witness for the Lord.

Pope Francis Says: “Christianity spreads through the joy of disciples who know that they are loved and saved.”

Lord, grant me the power to witness for You 24/7. Amen.

St. Peter of Tarentaise, pray for us.

Luke describes to us the Lord’s Ascension. There is a mosque built over the place where Jesus ascended into heaven. The final act of Jesus on earth is an interesting topic to reflect on. I wonder what was going on in His mind at the time? He has left us with the responsibility of sharing the Gospel to the world. Let us always be faithful to this mandate and privilege.

1 In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught 2 until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; 5 for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. 8But 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.” 9 When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. 10 While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

R: God mounts his throne to shouts of joy; a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

1 [2] All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness. 2 [3] For the Lord, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth. (R) 5 [6] God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the Lord, amid trumpet blasts. 6 [7] Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise. (R) 7 [8] For king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise. 8 [9] God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne. (R)

The glorification of Jesus will be complete when He returns to the Father. Jesus must have been satisfied with all that He had accomplished. It is now our responsibility to continue His mission of proclaiming the Good News of God’s love. The cost of being a disciple of Jesus is dying to oneself. We do what He wants us to do rather than simply follow our own desires.

Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23

24 Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. 25 Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; 26 if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice. 27 Just as it is appointed that men and women die once, and after this the judgment, 28 so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him. 10:19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary 20 by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, 21 and since we have “a great priest over the house of God,” 22 let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.

Luke gives us a motherhood statement when he tells us that Jesus worked with the disciples as they continued His mission. The Gospel was written about a generation after the death of Jesus and so He would have been a witness to this truth. Let us continue to trust that Jesus is with us and at work in the Church, despite its imperfections. Let us be as faithful to the Gospel as much as we can.

Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world.

46 Jesus said to his disciples: “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” 50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. 51 As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. 52 Theydid him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and they were continually in the temple praising God.

think: The cost of being a disciple of Jesus is dying to oneself.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

YOU ARE HIS BODY!

Today is Ascension Sunday. Jesus has completed His earthly mission and ascends into heaven, leaving us a mandate, “You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (vv. 48-49).

       This was not given only to the exclusive group of the Apostles. This was also a mandate that the Risen Christ gave to every Christian believer.

       How have we fared with this mandate of the Ascension? When you look at our Church communities and compare the members who merely attend with those who actively participate, you find a glaring imbalance. It’s not unusual to find a small group of diligent Christian workers “sweating it out on the court” while others in the congregation are acting like spectators, sitting on the sidelines, with their soda and popcorn.

       Jesus never intended His Church to be run like a concert or sports event. It does not call for the job to be done by the pros while the others sit on the sidelines as spectators. In the game of life, all Christians have respective positions and spiritual gifts that must be exercised “for the profit of all.”

       St. Paul understood this. That is why in his letter to the Corinthians, he spoke of the Church as the Body of Christ. Each part counts. No one claims importance over the rest. Each member functions and contributes for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7). In fact, in other parts of his epistles, he called to task some members of the community in Thessalonica who sit idle, acting merely like busybodies (2 Thessalonians 3:11).

       As we recall today our common mandate to “Christify” the world, let us move forward and be identified. Let us offer our unique gifts and place them at the altar of the common good. Whether in Church, in the workplace, in the homes, in the community, let us embrace that mentality of participation. That is what it means to be a member of the Body of Christ. Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you literally just “hear” Mass every Sunday? Don’t just hear it. Live it.

Lord, stir up the anointing of my baptism. Make me Your everyday apostle. Amen.