Today we celebrate the glorious Ascension of Christ. It is a day of great joy and gladness
First Reading: Acts. 1:1-11
Second Reading: Eph. 1: 17-23
Gospel Reading: Mk. 16:15-20
* First Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. It gives us a description of the event of Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. Before the Ascension, Jesus reminded his followers of their responsibility. He promised them that he would send the Holy Spirit and they are to witness to him all throghout the world; with the power of the Holy Spirit . After this , when all of them were looking on, Jesus was lifted up to heaven .As they were still gazing on, they were reminded that as has has gone up to heaven, he will come again.
* Second Reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul describes the meaning of Ascension of Jesus. That God has raised Jesus above all earthly power , and made him, not only head of the Church but the Lord of all creation. Paul then prays for the Ephesians and asks God to make them understand the heavenly riches we inherit through Jesus Christ.
"He was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right had of God"
In the Gospel today, we have Jesus and the disciples gathered together before the Ascension. Jesus commissions his apostles to preach the Kingdom of God. He promised them that he would be with them till the end. After that he ascended into heaven.
For the disciples , ascension of Jesus marks the begining of a new chapter . From now on, they are without the physical presence of Jesus. For three years, Jesus led them from the front, taught them by example, trained hem to be fishers of men, gave them a thirst for the things to come. This separation though painful , is for good. Jesus knew that it was time fo him to entrust the helm in the hands of his disciples . Jesus knew that, after many trials and errors, betrayals and denials they have reached the maturity. Jesus told tem that it was for their good that he goes. "It is for your benefit that I leave you, for after I leave, I will send you the Holy Spirit, who will guide and teach you " Jn.16:6. Jesus' Ascension is most important for us too, because it confirsm His claim to be God's own Son. And it completes the cycle of incarnation , redemption and glorification. Hence by His Ascension, he gives us the hope that one day we too will follow him to heaven.
First Reading: Acts. 1:1-11
Second Reading: Eph. 1: 17-23
Gospel Reading: Mk. 16:15-20
* First Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. It gives us a description of the event of Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. Before the Ascension, Jesus reminded his followers of their responsibility. He promised them that he would send the Holy Spirit and they are to witness to him all throghout the world; with the power of the Holy Spirit . After this , when all of them were looking on, Jesus was lifted up to heaven .As they were still gazing on, they were reminded that as has has gone up to heaven, he will come again.
* Second Reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul describes the meaning of Ascension of Jesus. That God has raised Jesus above all earthly power , and made him, not only head of the Church but the Lord of all creation. Paul then prays for the Ephesians and asks God to make them understand the heavenly riches we inherit through Jesus Christ.
"He was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right had of God"
In the Gospel today, we have Jesus and the disciples gathered together before the Ascension. Jesus commissions his apostles to preach the Kingdom of God. He promised them that he would be with them till the end. After that he ascended into heaven.
For the disciples , ascension of Jesus marks the begining of a new chapter . From now on, they are without the physical presence of Jesus. For three years, Jesus led them from the front, taught them by example, trained hem to be fishers of men, gave them a thirst for the things to come. This separation though painful , is for good. Jesus knew that it was time fo him to entrust the helm in the hands of his disciples . Jesus knew that, after many trials and errors, betrayals and denials they have reached the maturity. Jesus told tem that it was for their good that he goes. "It is for your benefit that I leave you, for after I leave, I will send you the Holy Spirit, who will guide and teach you " Jn.16:6. Jesus' Ascension is most important for us too, because it confirsm His claim to be God's own Son. And it completes the cycle of incarnation , redemption and glorification. Hence by His Ascension, he gives us the hope that one day we too will follow him to heaven.
No comments:
Post a Comment