The Ascension of the Lord
Scripture:
Acts 1:1-11
Ephesians 1:17-23 or 4:1-13
Mark 16:15-20
Reflection:
Today, the feast of the Solemnity of the Ascension is celebrated in most dioceses in the United States. The Ascension was traditionally celebrated on the 40th day after the feast of the Resurrection, always a Thursday, followed 10 days later by the celebration of the feast of Pentecost, always on a Sunday. Following the Second Vatican Council, the church allowed the Solemnity of the Ascension to be moved to the following Sunday, if approved by the local Bishop, to give the feast a more prominent position in the liturgical calendar between the feast of the Resurrection and the feast of Pentecost.
Consider for a moment, the momentous occurrences of the 52 days between the occasion of the Last Supper (the institution of the Eucharist) on the feast of Passover, followed by Christ’s passion, death, resurrection and Ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. We, the faithful have reflected on Christ’s life, from the infancy narrative in St. Luke’s gospel, through his baptism, his first miracle at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom, countless more miracles and teachings, the Transfiguration, and the final journey to Jerusalem. Laid out in beautiful scriptural passages before us are 33 years of one man’s life, that we have followed and studied and prayed over.
Suddenly, these long and arduous years are capped off by a series of rapid miraculous and mysterious events in just 52 days that can only be compared to the eruption of a super-volcano, the results of which would impact humanity forever.
We, as Catholics, have been taught to meditatively observe the 25(+/-) days of Advent leading up to Christmas and the 40 days of lent leading up to the Triduum. But how much time do we spend focusing on the mysterious and miraculous events of the 52 days from the Last Supper through Pentecost, including today’s Solemnity of the Ascension? These days seem to move so swiftly that it is difficult to immerse ourselves in the significance of each one of them individually. However, don’t these events make up the heart of our salvation narrative?
“He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem…” “But in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus said to his disciples; “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God.”
Welcome home my Son. Thank you Father……it is finished.
Bill Berger has had a lifelong relationship with the Passionist Family. He and his wife, Linda, are currently leaders of the Community of Passionist Partners (CPPs) in Houston.