Readings for The Ascension of the Lord[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 1:1-11
We have today the introductory comments of St. Luke as he begins the Acts of the Apostles. Like any well written story, he connects the events that have just taken place in his first volume- The Gospel of Luke, with what will follow.
Using the interval of days, Luke links the resurrection, Christ’s glorification, and his ascension with the appearance of the Holy Spirit – the Pascal Mystery. Christ’s departure marks the end of his direct involvement with the Apostles, except for his appearance to Paul on the road to Damascus. The passage concludes with a unique description of the actual event or Jesus being taken into heaven.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
We hear once more the praise of the 47th Psalm (the same verses used at Mass yesterday – Saturday of the sixth week of Easter) but with a different Antiphon. Since we celebrate Christ’s Ascension, the refrain uses the sixth verse to announce His entry to heaven.
Reading II Ephesians 1:17-23
The selection provided is part of St. Paul’s introductory comments to the Ephesians. His focus in this passage underlines the enlightenment flowing from the Holy Spirit. The final sentences provide an understanding of the power assumed by the Lord as he ascends to the Father.
Or Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23
Supporting the Solemnity of the Ascension, this passage from Hebrews contrasts the earthly temple to the heavenly throne mounted by the Lord. We also see the contrast between the traditions of the Hebrew Priests, constantly offering sacrifices of atonement, and the sacrifice of Christ, offered once and for all so that sins might be forgiven.
In the final paragraph taken from the next chapter, we are shown the practical consequences of Christ’s ascension to the Father and the role of Eternal High Priest he assumes.
Gospel Mt 28:16-20
This passage from the Gospel of St. Matthew presents “The Commissioning” monologue that concludes this Gospel. The doubting disciples are reassured that all the Lord had predicted, all the prophets had foretold had come to pass and the Lord now assumed his place with the Father. He then sends them out to continue His earthly mission. His command to them is an important one. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing 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.” In this statement we receive the proper “form” and institution of the Sacrament of Baptism and the command to bring all nations to follow the Lord. He finally reassures them that he will be with them always.
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 1:1-11
We have today the introductory comments of St. Luke as he begins the Acts of the Apostles. Like any well written story, he connects the events that have just taken place in his first volume- The Gospel of Luke, with what will follow.
Using the interval of days, Luke links the resurrection, Christ’s glorification, and his ascension with the appearance of the Holy Spirit – the Pascal Mystery. Christ’s departure marks the end of his direct involvement with the Apostles, except for his appearance to Paul on the road to Damascus. The passage concludes with a unique description of the actual event or Jesus being taken into heaven.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
We hear once more the praise of the 47th Psalm (the same verses used at Mass yesterday – Saturday of the sixth week of Easter) but with a different Antiphon. Since we celebrate Christ’s Ascension, the refrain uses the sixth verse to announce His entry to heaven.
Reading II Ephesians 1:17-23
The selection provided is part of St. Paul’s introductory comments to the Ephesians. His focus in this passage underlines the enlightenment flowing from the Holy Spirit. The final sentences provide an understanding of the power assumed by the Lord as he ascends to the Father.
Or Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23
Supporting the Solemnity of the Ascension, this passage from Hebrews contrasts the earthly temple to the heavenly throne mounted by the Lord. We also see the contrast between the traditions of the Hebrew Priests, constantly offering sacrifices of atonement, and the sacrifice of Christ, offered once and for all so that sins might be forgiven.
In the final paragraph taken from the next chapter, we are shown the practical consequences of Christ’s ascension to the Father and the role of Eternal High Priest he assumes.
Gospel Mt 28:16-20
This passage from the Gospel of St. Matthew presents “The Commissioning” monologue that concludes this Gospel. The doubting disciples are reassured that all the Lord had predicted, all the prophets had foretold had come to pass and the Lord now assumed his place with the Father. He then sends them out to continue His earthly mission. His command to them is an important one. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing 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.” In this statement we receive the proper “form” and institution of the Sacrament of Baptism and the command to bring all nations to follow the Lord. He finally reassures them that he will be with them always.
Reflection:
We ask the question on this solemn day; “Why was more not made of the Lord’s ascension to the Father?” While it is referred to in scripture in some places, it is not even mentioned in the Gospel of St. Matthew or St. John’s for that matter. In St. Mark’s Gospel it is given only one verse (and some scholars say this may have been a later addition, not even intended by the author when it was first published.). In the scripture St. Luke (Lk 24:46-53) speaks of the event. But unlike the resurrection and even the birth of Jesus, this event, the final event in the Lord’s presence among us, we are only given a few verses. Even the St. Paul’s support speaks of the Lord’s ascension as the necessary conclusion to Christ’s ministry on earth rather than a tremendous event. Why is that we wonder?
We look to our next most important source, the Patristic Fathers, the earliest theologians; those mighty minds that first considered the very nature of Christ and His Church. We find little written about the importance of the Ascension of Christ from that source. St. Thomas Aquinas did treat the subject in the Suma Theologica in the Third Part (Tertia Pars) considering the life of Christ he devotes a question to the topic (Question 57). While asking about the rationale and effect of Christ’s ascension, he does not question the reason for its lack of prominence.
Having found little to answer the question from pre-existing sources, we must use our own understanding of Christ and of human nature to infer the reasons. First we look at the situation in real-time, and set in its historical perspective. We know that the Lord ascended on the fourth day following his resurrection from the dead (“The elevation of Christ into heaven by His own power in presence of His disciples the fortieth day after His Resurrection. It is narrated in Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, and in the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.”[3]). The disciples have just gone from anguish at the Lord’s death to joy at his promised resurrection. The event that fulfilled God’s promise and was proof of salvation. What is the last thing they would want? They would not want to loose him again.
In a really enjoyable story, the ending is “…and they all lived happily ever after.” The fact that Christ died and rose from the dead is the happy ending. The Ascension of the Lord, even though it was foretold as well, was not something either the disciples or the early Church wanted to dwell upon. It meant that Jesus, the man, the living proof of God’s inestimable love, was no longer with them in body.
The Ascension of the Lord is a happy day for us. It is truly the happy ending that had to be. Jesus returned as he said he would. He left his final instructions with his friends before departing “to take his seat at the right hand of the Father.” We rejoice today in that knowledge because it was necessary that he go on before us to prepare that place were we and all who walk in faith hope one day to follow. Even though it does not consume volumes of scripture, we rejoice as the Lord returns to the Father for us.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “Ascension of Christ” by Guariento d'Arpo, c. 1344
[3] The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume I. Published 1907. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat, March 1, 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York, Ascension, Written by John J. Wynne. Transcribed by Joseph P. Thomas.
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