COLLECT: “GLADDEN US WITH HOLY JOYS, ALMIGHTY GOD, AND MAKE US REJOICE WITH DEVOUT THANKSGIVING, FOR THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST YOUR SON IN OUR EXALTATION, AND, WHERE THE HEAD HAS GONE BEFORE IN GLORY, THE BODY IS CALLED TO FOLLOW IN HOPE. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Acts 1:1-11; Ps 46:2-3,6-9; Eph 1:17-23 or Heb 9:28-28;10:19-23; Lk 24:46-53.
“MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, AND NOW I AM PRESENT WITH YOU”
The Ascension of Jesus is a Christian teaching found in the New Testament that describes the resurrected Jesus being taken up to heaven in his resurrected body, in the presence of eleven of his apostles, which occurred 40 days after his resurrection. In the biblical narratives, two angels proclaimed to the watching disciples that Jesus' second coming would take place in the same manner as his ascension (Acts 1:11).
The Ascension of Jesus must be seen, not so much in terms of Jesus physically leaving this world, but Jesus becoming the Lord of all creation. At the Ascension, Jesus Christ was crowned with glory, for having won victory over sin and death. God the Father “raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavens, where Jesus has been given all power in heaven and on earth, far above every principality, authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph 1: 20-22).
There is however an implication of the Ascension of Jesus that we must not forget and in fact, this has direct relevance to our lives as believers and witnesses. Those of us familiar with a relay race in sports or athletics usually witness the passing of the baton from one runner to another. At the Ascension, Jesus passed the baton of responsibility for the Kingdom of God to his followers. Jesus commissioned the Apostles to carry on the work he had begun, to run His course and complete the race that He had started, but had not finished before ascending to the Father, till his second coming*. They are to live the ideal life, to serve others, to teach, to suffer and die and rise, and to start a Church. The implication is that, Jesus will certainly come again to judge and rule the earth, though, unfortunately, some false preachers go on preaching that Jesus will not come the second time. We should be ready for his sudden second return (1 Thess 5:2), and therefore we should not stand there idly and be “staring into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Rather we should work hard to share the Good News so that others will be able to have a share in God’s great blessings.
In the readings, Jesus tells his disciples to be his witnesses to the ends of the world (Acts 1:8). This witnessing role is to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt 28:17ff). Simply put: the disciples should go and convert the world and humanity. This is a very demanding task and responsibility that Jesus placed on them.
From now on, the disciples will take the place of Jesus in the world. They are now the representatives or the ambassadors of Jesus Christ in the world, carrying the message of Jesus to the rest of the world. In fact, the disciples and all Christians for that matter, are now the hands, legs, eyes, ears, head, heart, mind and the whole body of Jesus Christ. Therefore, as such, we should ask ourselves whether Jesus is pleased with the way we use them.
Now as disciples of Jesus Christ, we should be credible witnesses and teachers of Christ in the world beginning from our own homes, places of work and study, carrying out Jesus’ commission and command wherever we find ourselves. We should make a conscious effort to be the kind of persons that God the Father creates us to be. We should make a conscious effort to be the kind of persons that Jesus Christ teaches us to be. We should also make a conscious effort to be the kind of persons that the Holy Spirit inspires and enlightens us to be. May we work to convert and transform the world and humanity.
It is important to note that our lives speak much more eloquently than our lips when it comes to witnessing, preaching and teaching. People would rather see a sermon/homily than listen to a sermon/homily. How am I carrying out Jesus’ commission and command of witnessing to Him?
Shall we pray rededicating and offering ourselves and our lives to Jesus Christ?
“LORD JESUS, I OFFER YOU MY HANDS, TO DO YOUR WORK. I OFFER YOU MY LEGS, TO WALK ON YOUR PATH. I OFFER YOU MY MOUTH, TO PROCLAIM YOUR WORD. I OFFER YOU MY EYES, TO SEE AS YOU SEE. I OFFER YOU MY THOUGHTS, TO THINK OF AND THINK ABOUT YOU. I OFFER YOU MY SOUL, TO ADORE AND GLORIFY YOU ALONE. I OFFER YOU MY HEART, TO LOVE YOU AND YOUR FATHER, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND ALL HUMANKIND. I OFFER YOU MY WHOLE SELF AND EVERYTHING ABOUT ME, TO LIVE AND GROW IN YOU AS THE TRUE VINE. THEREFORE, LORD, USE ME AS YOUR HUMBLE UNWORTHY SERVANT TO DO YOUR WILL AND TO PROCLAIM YOUR NAME FOREVER. A M E N.”*
Stay blessed and Happy Feast of the Ascension of the Lord.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, THURSDAY, ON THE MYSTERIES OF LIGHT: ‘THE BAPTISM OF JESUS, THE WEDDING AT CANA, THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM, THE TRANSFIGURATION, AND THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST’. (WE PRAY FOR OPENNESS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, PRAY TO JESUS THROUGH MARY, FOR REPENTANCE AND TRUST IN GOD, THE DESIRE FOR HOLINESS, AND WE PRAY FOR THE SPIRIT OF ADORATION) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “ALMIGHTY EVER-LIVING GOD, WHO ALLOW THOSE ON EARTH TO CELEBRATE DIVINE MYSTERIES, GRANT, WE PRAY, THAT CHRISTIAN HOPE MAY DRAW US ONWARD TO WHERE OUR NATURE IS UNITED WITH YOU. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.
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