Ascension of the Lord Solemnity (Seventh Sunday of Easter)
Also Read: Mass Readings for 01 June 2025 Sunday Reflection by Maryanne – 01 June 2025
The Ascension: A Pivotal Moment in Salvation History
The Ascension of the Lord marks a decisive shift in God’s redemptive plan. Jesus, having completed His earthly mission, returns to the Father. This is not to leave us behind, but to initiate the next phase of His divine work. He entrusts His followers, including us today, with the responsibility of continuing His mission on earth.
A Clear Commission
In Acts 1:1–11, we witness Jesus’ final moments with His apostles. His words are not vague or sentimental farewells. He gives direct and purposeful instructions: wait for the Holy Spirit, then go forth as His witnesses to the ends of the earth. This moment isn’t about parting— it’s about purpose. It’s the commissioning that ignites the Church’s global mission.
Christ Enthroned
Psalm 47 resounds like a royal celebration: “God mounts His throne amid shouts of joy!” This is no mere departure. This is a declaration of God’s kingship, which Christians recognize in Christ. The Ascension reveals not absence but authority. Jesus takes His place in glory, and His reign offers lasting hope and confidence to the world.
Wisdom from Above
In Ephesians 1:17–23, St. Paul prays that we may receive “a spirit of wisdom and revelation” to truly understand the hope we have in Christ. Now exalted at the Father’s right hand, Jesus is the head of the Church. The Church is His living body, through which He continues His saving work. We are not passive observers to Christ’s work. We are active participants in this divine mission.
Presence in a New Form
In Luke 24:46–53, Jesus blesses His disciples and ascends before their eyes. Yet they do not mourn but rejoice. Why? Because they grasp the truth: Jesus has not vanished; He is now present in a new way, working through them by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Ascension isn’t the end of the story—it’s the launch of a new beginning. It calls us to rise up as Spirit-empowered witnesses, to live with joyful urgency, and to carry Christ’s light into the world. Jesus reigns above, and He works within. Let’s embrace the call—to be a Church alive in mission, rooted in hope, and bold in faith.
