ASCENSION OF THE LORD Solemnity (Seventh Sunday of Easter)
Also Read: Mass Readings for 29 May 2022
First Reading: Acts 1: 1-11
Praise the Lord!
(11)Two men in white robes stood by them and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Jesus reassures his followers, that they are not to be anxious about the future. He will come the same way he ascended into heaven! While we eagerly await his return, what is our conduct? Are we fearful of the current situation around us? Are we discouraged about tomorrow? Do we utilize our time well in anticipation of the Lord’s return? Have we worked more each day in spreading his Gospel? Where is our gaze directed towards?
Yet, we are the privileged ones, because HE comes daily at the Holy Eucharist, We must Believe and Receive him in our Hearts!
Amen!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 47: 2-3, 6-9
(2) For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth.
(3) He subdued peoples under us and nations under our feet.
Praise the Lord!
Second Reading: Ephesians 1: 17-23
(15) I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason (16) I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers, (17) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,
St. Paul and all the apostles and saints pray for us, even though we may not remember to intentionally ask each of them! In the verses preceding the reading today, we understand that the pre-requisite to gaining wisdom is faith and love. May we strengthen our faith and not fail in love!
(18) With the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may perceive what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,
This is St. Paul’s prayer for us! Through faith and love, we have hope.
(20) God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
(21) far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.
We have been baptized in the name of Jesus and through the Holy Spirit, we too partake of His power. The Lectio Divina(NRSV) states “Jesus Christ, whom God has raised from the dead is the head of all things and his body now is the church.” We then, being part of his church are members of His body! He dwells among us!
Amen!
Gospel: Luke 24: 46-53
(49) Jesus said to them, “See, I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
If we desire to receive the Holy Spirit we must stay where we have been planted and await his coming! But how are we to know whether we are awaiting Him in the correct place. A very wise speaker once said, “Don’t keep walking to the west expecting to see the sunrise!” To discern, we must reflect and persist in personal prayer.
(49)They were continually in the temple blessing God.
Some versions of this text also add praising and blessing God! These are guidelines for our conduct as we await a reawakening of the Holy Spirit within us. We must praise and thank God continually. It is possible to do so, in the spirit. Next, we must decide to set aside quiet prayer time with the Lord – (If possible early morning, before we rush out the door.) A few minutes a day is a good way to begin our journey back! Once we experience the sweetness in spending just a few minutes with our Maker, we will automatically wake up a bit earlier to make more time for HIM! And thirdly, if possible we must attend daily Mass.
May we learn to pray continually and live in faith, love, and hope. This will naturally lift our spirits and we will be singing in the temples of our hearts always!
Amen!
