THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
First Reading: Acts 1:1-11
Second Reading: Ephesians 1: 17-23
Gospel Reading: Mark 16:15-20
*First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. A description of the various apparitions of the risen Lord on different occassions after His resurrection is narrated. After a period of forty days Jesus ascended to heaven and promised His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit upon them and they shall be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea , Samaria and to the ends of the world. As they were listening to Him, Jesus was lifted up to heaven and a cloud took Him out of their sight.
*Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul explains the meaning of the Ascension of the Lord to the Ephesian Christians. He asserts that God raised Jesus above all earthly powers and made Him not only head of the Church but the Lord of the whole creation. Those who believe in Him will accomplish great things.
Lord Jesus was taken up to heaven Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. This passage tells us that after instructing the disciples, Jesus was taken up to heaven and He sits at the right hand of God. On His final day in this world, the risen Lord commissioned His disciples to carry on the work that He began. Ascension of Jesus tells us that He is no longer physically present among the disciples. From now on they are to proclaim His message to the whole world. The feast of Ascension should give us hope of a life after death. It should as well strengthen us by the abiding presence of Jesus among His followers. Hence the following messages are given by this feast:
1. The risen Lord is now in His glory and He is seated at the right hand of God the Father. 2. Jesus assures us that after His ascension He will send the Holy Spirit to guide us. 3. Jesus promises us that even after being ascended into heaven He will continue to be with us till the end of the world : by the word of God and by His sacramental presence in the Holy Eucharist. 4. Jesus' ascension gives us the hope that one day all those who believe in Him will participate in His glory.
"At His Ascension our Lord entered Heaven and He keeps the door open for humanity to enter." - Oswald Chambers
"Ascensions into heaven are like falling leaves, sad and happy all at the same time. Going away isn't really sad especially when your going enables a new kind of presence to be born." - Ernest Hemingway
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