Ascending from the suffering for the faith to glorified and rewarded faith.
It is 28th May 2017. We celebrate the Solemnity of The Ascension of the Lord. We are invited to participate and to share in the glory of God by ascending from our earthly attachments to claiming the heavenly blessings. The readings are from Acts 1:1-11; the second reading is from Ephesians 1:17-23; and the Gospel is from Matthew 28:16-20. The first reading shares the scene of the Ascension of Jesus. It is the final departure of Jesus from the world to the Father. It is the glory Christ in the ascending to the Father and the promise of the Holy Spirit descending from the Father. The suffering, the crucifixion and the death of Jesus exalted Him on the earth while the Ascension raised Him and glorified Him to be the intercessor, the one priest of the new and eternal Covenant to be present in the presence of God interceding on our behalf. “He is the center and the principal actor of the liturgy that honours the Father in heaven.” (CCC 662). What is required of us is to be the witnesses of the Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit in this mercilessly brutal and competitive world. In acquiring positions, power, titles, honours, let us not stamp on the others and destroy the dignity of the brethren. The responsorial Psalm praises, “God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.” (Ps.47:6). The second reading is the type of prayer to glorify the honour Jesus enjoys by seated at the right hand of the Father. By His ascension, Jesus left us with His Body, the Church in which we are the part of that mystical body of Christ. “He put all things beneath his feet and gave Him as head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.” (Eph.1:23). The Gospel presents us with the Great Commission expected of the apostles to making disciples for Jesus and His promise to be with them till the end. Jesus desires that we too become the witnesses of His love in the world through our deep worship, prayer and faith in Him. Let us not bury our lives in the early fame and pleasures rather to ascend above them and to glorify Him in all we do and say. “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.” (Mt.28:19). We live this life for once only , let us live it for Jesus. May you have a good day.