Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

(5/12/2024) Gospel Reading: Mark 16:15-20

 

“The Lord Jesus Was Taken up into Heaven”

 

Go and teach all nations, says the Lord;

I am with you always, until the end of the world.

 

From the desk of Fr. Leo Alban Asuncion

     When anyone works for a definite end, there is genuine rejoicing when the goal is reached: the student at his or her graduation, the scientist in his or her invention, the soldier on the day of victory, the laborer at the completion of a definite task, parents in the successful accomplishment of their children. Success crowns the long and arduous toil. People are glad and make merry.          

     This weekend's feast celebrates the exaltation of Christ at the Father's side, sharing his dignity, power, and glory, he the King and Heir of the universe. The entire Christian world has followed him from his taking human flesh of the Virgin Mother by the power off the Holy Spirit until he was crucified for our sake on Golgotha. They have gazed on him as a tiny babe, listened to his preaching on the hillside, suffered with him in his passion, rejoiced with him the Risen Christ, and now are exultant that he is enthroned at the Father's side, in glory that he had with the Father before the world began.   

     The Ascension is a feast of great rejoicing. Everyone who loves the Savior will rejoice with him, for his life of toil and sacrifice now receives a magnificent and divine reward. The limitations which he had imposed upon himself during his earthly life have come to an end, and the glory of Jesus, Son of Mary, shines in the fullness of the Godhead. From the meek and humble savior riding into Jerusalem on a beast of burden, he is the mighty Lord of the universe, in whom everything holds together, and all things continue in existence. Yes “all things in the heavens and on Earth are being brought together into one under his headship' making him the Center and attracting Force of all creation. No wonder that the entire court of heaven breaks out with exultant praise; “Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise.” (Revelations 5:1        

     As the head of the Body, the Church, he has gone on ahead to prepare a place for us in the mansions of the Father, that where he is we also may be. Our hope is bolstered at the thought of what awaits those who remain faithful to him during this earthly pilgrimage, and endeavor to carry out this command he so earnestly impressed on his followers: to love one another as he has loved them.         

     Faith alone opens to us these grand vistas of the glory to come. But faith needs to be treasured, to be fostered, to be increased day by day, lest we lose the savor of Christian endeavor, and our hope gradually dims.  Rejoicing with our Blessed savior in the glory of the Father is a true stimulus to follow him faithfully now, to be with him forever in the eternal abode.

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Meditation: Why did Jesus leave his disciples forty days after his resurrection? Forty is a significant number in the scriptures. Moses went to the mountain to seek the face of God for forty days in prayer and fasting. The people of Israel were in the wilderness for forty years in preparation for their entry into the promised land. Elijah fasted for forty days as he journeyed in the wilderness to the mountain of God. For forty days after his resurrection Jesus appeared numerous times to his disciples to assure them that he had risen indeed and to prepare them for the task of carrying on the work which he began during his earthy ministry.

The Risen Lord Jesus is with us always to the end of time
Jesus' departure and ascension was both an end and a beginning for his disciples. While it was the end of Jesus' physical presence with his beloved disciples, it marked the beginning of Jesus' presence with them in a new way. Jesus promised that he would be with them always to the end of time (Matthew 28:20). Now as the glorified and risen Lord and Savior, ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven, Jesus promised to send them the Holy Spirit who would anoint them with power on the Feast of Pentecost, just as Jesus was anointed for his ministry at the River Jordan. When the Lord Jesus departed physically from the apostles, they were not left in sorrow or grief. Instead, they were filled with joy and with great anticipation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

The Risen Lord empowers us to carry on his work
Jesus' last words to his apostles point to his saving mission and to their mission to be witnesses of his saving death and his glorious resurrection and to proclaim the good news of salvation to all the world. Their task is to proclaim the Gospel - the good news of salvation - not only to the people of Israel, but to all the nations as well. God's love and gift of salvation is not reserved for a few or for one nation alone, but it is for the whole world - for all who will accept it. The Gospel is the power of God, the power to release people from their burden of guilt, sin, and oppression, and the power to heal, restore, and make us whole. Do you believe in the power of the Gospel?

We are ambassadors for Jesus Christ
This is the great commission which the risen Christ gives to the whole church. All believers have been given a share in this task - to be heralds of the good news and ambassadors for Jesus Christ, the only savior of the world. We have not been left alone in this task, for the risen Lord works in and through us by the power of his Holy Spirit. Today we witness a new Pentecost as the Lord pours out his Holy Spirit upon his people to renew and strengthen the body of Christ and to equip it for effective ministry and mission world-wide. Do you witness to others the joy of the Gospel and the hope of the resurrection?

Lord Jesus, through the gift of your Holy Spirit, you fill us with an indomitable spirit of praise and joy which no earthly trial can subdue. Fill me with your resurrection joy and help me to live a life of praise and thanksgiving for your glory. May I witness to those around me the joy of the Gospel and the reality of your great victory over sin and death.

   read more at: http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org

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