Bulletin Reflection - St Jude Catholic Church - The Ascension of the Lord - 24 May 2020

      As we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord today, our reading from the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles shows the disciples gazing up into the heavens, shocked and mesmerized as they see Jesus ascending.  When two messengers appear, they ask the disciples: “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?”  So what is the Ascension all about?  We can start be stating what it isn’t about: The Ascension is not defined in a literal sense of Jesus floating up into space on his way to “heaven”.  The Ascension is much more than that.  

      Perhaps we could say that the Ascension can be best understood in the way that it is a part of the Paschal Mystery, which is comprised of: Jesus’ suffering and death, his resurrection, his ascension, and his sending of the Holy Spirit.  Those four elements of the Paschal Mystery comprise one reality. In the resurrection, we understand that Jesus still lives as our Savior and our Redeemer.  In the Ascension, we better understand Christ’s relationship with the Father.  The living Christ has now entered into glory, a reality he shares with the Father. 

     In our 2^nd reading today from his letter to the Ephesians, Paul sees the Ascension in these terms: of God the Father raising Christ from the dead, of seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every other principality, authority, power, and dominion, above every name that is named, in this age and in the ages to come. Pope Francis sees the Ascension creating a new reality of Christ with us.  The pope states: Christ is with God the Father, where he always intercedes for us. He is no longer in a definite place in the world as he was before the Ascension. He is now in the lordship of God, present in all space and time, next to each of us. I am always impressed by the words and images that Pope Francis uses.

      Let us pray: Lord Jesus, right before your Ascension into heaven, you told your apostles that they will be your witnesses to the ends of the earth upon receiving the Holy Spirit. May all of us as modern-day disciples similarly be inspired to spread your Gospel message in word and deed, according to your will for us. May we do so prudently and joyfully, with your help and your grace! Remembering the glorious event of your Ascension, help us to always seek our your eternal truths. AMEN.