The Ascension of the Lord / Msgr. Owen F. Campion
The Sunday Readings
Celebrating the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord varies from place to place. In some places, this feast will have been celebrated on Thursday, May 29. In these places, the liturgy for this weekend will be that of the Seventh Sunday of Easter.
In other dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, the feast is celebrated this weekend. These reflections will address the readings for the Ascension of the Lord, not for the Seventh Sunday.
The Acts of the Apostles supplies the first reading for Mass on this feast. It recounts the story of the ascension of the Lord from Earth into heaven. This passage begins this New Testament book.
As with the Gospel of St. Luke, Acts seems to have been composed for one person whose name was Theophilus. It is not known if this was a proper name or title. (In Greek, “Theophilus” means “friend of God.”)
Regardless, Acts opens with a powerful message. Resplendent is the ascension of Jesus from earthly space and time to return to heaven. This act of ascending, not of being assumed, reveals, as the resurrection, that Jesus came from God, is with God, is eternal and possesses the power of God.
Other points are important. The reading gives the credentials of the Apostles. Jesus chose them in a divine act. The Holy Spirit came upon them.
Jesus taught the Apostles as no one else was taught. He guided and directed them. They obeyed him. They witnessed the Ascension. They were especially trained because they had a unique mission. Yet, they were humans and confused. But Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would give them insight and wisdom. Indeed, the Holy Spirit came to them, which the Church will celebrate on Pentecost.
To underscore the divinity of Jesus and the Apostles’ mission, angels appear after the ascension telling the Apostles to go forward with their mission to preach the Gospel and to bring into the world the mercy, love and presence of God in Jesus.
St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians is the source of the second reading. It is a beautiful prayer, asking God to give the followers of Jesus wisdom and perception. The Apostle praised Christ who is now seated at the right hand of God “far above every principality, authority and dominion” (Eph 1:17).
St. Luke’s Gospel, the source of the last reading, also offers an ascension narrative. Jesus leads the Apostles to a place near Bethany. (The Mount of Olives, traditionally said to have been the site of the Ascension, is near Bethany.) Jesus tells the Apostles that the Scriptures have been fulfilled. This too is proof of the divine identity of Jesus.
It also is proof of God’s communication with people through the centuries and of his mercy.
The Gospel further establishes the Apostles as the chief witnesses and primary students of the Lord. The Apostles watch the ascension of Jesus and then return to the city determined and committed to pray in the temple constantly and to proclaim the praises of God.
Reflection
The readings powerfully testify that Jesus is God. He rose again to life after being crucified and dying. Jesus ascended into heaven. He was not assumed into heaven or taken to heaven by a power outside of himself. He went to heaven, breaking the bonds of Earth with the power of God. But he did not forsake the people of the Earth, then or in all the subsequent years.
The readings are strongly ecclesial, stressing the identity of the Apostles, who learned from Jesus. The Spirit would come to guide them.
Important for us today and for the continuing unfolding of salvation is that the Apostles formed the Church that continues today. Through the Church, God in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit lives and touches us still.
The Easter story and the story of salvation are approaching their climax. Jesus lives still in the Church. He has not gone from us. †
The Criterion will not have an issue next week due to its summer schedule. The reflection of Msgr. Owen Campion for Sunday, June 8, will be posted at www.archindy.org/campion. †