THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD, CYCLE C

(In the Diocese of Orlando, the Ascension of the Lord is celebrated on the Seventh Sunday of Easter.)

Open with a prayer: God our Father, make us joyful in the Ascension of your Son Jesus Christ. May we follow him into the new creation, for his Ascension is our glory and our hope. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever, and ever.

Sharing of life: Share a 'moment of grace' you experienced since you last met.

Facilitator reads focus statement: The first reading describes the Ascension of Jesus and his promise of the Holy Spirit. In the second reading, Paul describes the meaning of the Ascension, how God raised Jesus above all earthly powers and made him Head of the Church and Lord of creation. In the gospel, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit before he ascends into heaven.

Consider reading the commentary after you read each reading if you have not done so prior to your meeting.

FIRST READING: Acts 1:1-11

In Kings 2:4-15 the prophet Elijah told his disciple, Elisha that he would receive a double portion of the Holy Spirit if he saw Elijah being taken up into heaven. It came to pass; Elisha witnessed the flaming chariot take up Elijah into heaven in a whirlwind. Thus Elisha received the spirit of Elijah and proceeded on to Jericho to continue his mission.

In Acts 1:9 the disciples saw Jesus being taken up into the clouds only to return to them in the Spirit in chapter two. They were to carry on the mission of Jesus just as Elisha was to continue the ministry of Elijah.

This reading shows us that the Ascension of Jesus marks the end of his journey and signals the beginning of a new era. The mission of the Church begins under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

PSALM 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

Based on a liturgical celebration at the Jerusalem temple, this psalm rejoices in the universal reign of God. The world processes to this holy place to honor God who rules with great compassion.

EPHESIANS 1:17-23

This is an excerpt from a prayer of thanksgiving. Paul begins by praying that all believers in Jesus will be blessed by wisdom and revelation of his ways. Then Paul prays that believers may be enlightened about three things: hope which is rooted in the possession of the Holy Spirit; the inheritance of God's life ("glory") as definitely assured; the tremendous power of God's abiding in believers. Just as God marvelously raised Jesus from death of life in the resurrection, so too will Christians experience radical change in their own lives. What happened to Jesus will happen to those who believe in him.

GOSPEL: Luke 24:46-53

The Gospel Reading consists of the end of Luke's Gospel. It contains Luke's first account of the Ascension, which is here presented as occurring on Easter Sunday. The risen Lord shows the apostles how the Scriptures had foretold that the Christ would suffer and rise again. Jesus also gives them a mission (the proclamation of repentance and forgiveness of sins) and promises to send the Holy Spirit to them. They return in joy to Jerusalem to await the Spirit.

In his Gospel, Luke has shown that 'the time of Israel' has yielded to 'the time of Christ'. Now, 'the time of Christ' is to yield to 'the time of the church'. The word of salvation will go forth from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. He will tell us about that in his second book, Acts of the Apostles. The Ascension is seen as the culmination of Jesus' life and start of the Church's mission.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What verse, idea or image spoke to you and how does it relate to your life?

2. After the Ascension, the disciples returned to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit. What new or fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit do you desire at this time for your parish and for yourself?

3. Jesus' last message to his disciples was a commission to evangelize every creature. To what extent is your parish faithful to this great commission? How faithful are you? How can both you and your parish carry out more faithfully this commission of Jesus?

4. Can you share an Ascension story from your life, a time when you were "lifted up" from pain to healing or hope?

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Name one way you can act on today's readings. Suggestion: Continue to pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit in preparation for the feast of Pentecost.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION