The Ascension of the Lord empowers us to face the transitions and changes of life with the conviction that God’s grace strengthens us in times of upheaval.
Mass Readings – The Ascension of the Lord
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Tag Archives: Ascension
Study, Pray, Serve: The Ascension of the Lord
Here are some of the main themes we see in the readings for the Ascension of the Lord.
1st Reading – Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11
- Luke transitions from his Gospel to the account of the Apostles.
- Jesus is taken up into heaven, assuring his followers that they will receive the Holy Spirit.
Psalm – 47:2-3,6-9
- “God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.”
- The Lord reveals his power and glory as all people praise God’s might.
2nd Reading – Ephesians 1:17-23 (option #1)
- The Lord offers a Spirit of wisdom and revelation that enlightens his followers.
- Christ’s has been raised in glory and is seated in the heavens with dominion over all creation.
2nd Reading – Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23 (option #2)
- Christ is the great high priest who offers his once-for-all sacrifice.
- We have confidence and hope to approach the Lord, trusting in his mercy.
Gospel – Luke 24:46-53
- Jesus explains how his death and resurrection would be preached to the nations.
- The Lord blesses his disciples and ascends into heaven.
Mass Readings – The Ascension of the Lord
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The Ascension of the Lord. Catholic Inspiration
The Ascension of the Lord reveals how God works in our lives during times of transition and change. May our trust in Christ help us to respond to divine grace, especially in those awkward and uncomfortable moments that are part of daily life.
Mass Readings – The Ascension of the Lord
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The Ascension of the Lord
The feast of the Ascension teaches us key spiritual insights about ourselves and the Lord. May this day inspire us to embrace our faith – strengthened by Christ – as we face our own challenges and grow in God’s grace.
Mass Readings – The Ascension of the Lord
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The Ascension of the Lord
Study: Transitions are a time of uncertainty. Consider a time when you experienced a transition: how did it feel? How did you face it?
Pray: When faced with the unknown we come to the Lord for direction. Pray that the Holy Spirit will send both wisdom (to know what to do), and strength (so you can do it).
Serve: Who in your life is alone right now. How might you walk with another in a time of transition and uncertainty?
Mass Readings – The Ascension of the Lord
There are moments in life when it is difficult to say good-bye. Whether it is a relocation through work, the completion of school, or the death of a loved one, we know that these events challenge us to move on with the transitions in life.
The Feast of the Ascension marks one of these transitions in the Church. This feast demands that we ask the question, “Now what?” as the Lord is taken from our midst. The disciples must now discover the new ways that God is at work in their lives – especially now that Jesus is no longer with them.
But unlike other transitions, where people pass out of our lives and are separated from us by physical distances or death, Jesus leaves his disciples in a different way. By ascending into heaven he does not move out of our lives, but rather he comes into contact with all life. Through his ascension the Holy Spirit comes upon all people, and Jesus touches our lives in a new and mysterious way.
The mystery of the Ascension is closely connected to the Resurrection of Jesus. The early Church recognized that the saving work which God did through Jesus included both of these events. We say in the Creed, “…he rose from the dead…(and) ascended into heaven…” in the same breath – for these two events show that the Lord’s work is unlike anything else ever done before.
Through his Resurrection, death and sin no longer have power over Jesus Christ; his sacrifice on the Cross offers hope for the whole world. Through his Ascension, all people can know Jesus and the Spirit; taken up to heaven, the Lord is now present to all people regardless of time or space.
This feast reminds us that Christ does not abandon his people. The Lord is near, and we enjoy his presence even though we cannot touch him as the disciples did. We know that God walks with us, and we trust that the Lord will give us the strength to carry out the mission of the gospel through the transitions we face in this life.
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This blog was originally published on May 5, 2013.
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The Ascension of the Lord. Catholic Inspiration
The Lord’s ascension into heaven marks a shift for the disciples as they transition from their experiences with Jesus to proclaiming the Gospel on their own. Life offers us many such transitions as opportunities that help us grow in wisdom and strength…for this life and the life to come.
Mass Readings – The Ascension of the Lord
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The Feast of the Ascension
Study: Reflect on a moment of profound change in your life. What lessons did you learn?
Pray: Ask the Lord for guidance to proclaim the Good News in your current situation.
Serve: Do you know someone who is experiencing great change right now? How can you help them?
Mass Readings – Feast of the Ascension of the Lord
About this time of year students experience transition. The academic year is coming to a close, classes are wrapping up, papers are written and exams taken. It is a time where one can clearly see change: teachers and classmates conclude their studies and look to new opportunities and experiences in the summer.
For some it might be work; others might attend summer school; still others might experience a move to a new location. Change takes many forms, but through it all some key points emerge:
- New People
- New Locations
- Opportunity to apply learning to life
The Feast of the Ascension is one such moment of profound change in the early Church. Rejoicing with one another over the Resurrection, the apostles were flying high – the Lord is risen! In this moment of enthusiasm and hope, the Lord (truly in the role of Teacher) shares with them a new lesson – it’s time to change and grow.
Now they are the ones who must teach; they are the ones chosen to proclaim the Good News; through their efforts the Holy Spirit will empower them to heal and drive out demons. Simply put, the Ascension of Jesus clears the way for the disciples to apply the Lord’s teaching in their own lives as they continue Christ’s mission in the world.
We are part of that mission. We received our faith from those who came before us, and today we have an opportunity to proclaim the Good News to those in our lives. Here are some thoughts:
- Family – who often see us in unguarded moments
- Friends – sustained and strengthened by our efforts
- Coworkers – witness our character and conviction
- Classmates – supported and encouraged in learning
- Neighbors – perceive our actions and effort
- Strangers – 1st impressions that point to Christ
- Enemies – encounter justice and mercy with forgiveness
The Good News takes many forms, and in our moments of transition we are given new opportunities to act. May the Ascension of our Lord inspire us to look for change in our own lives and seek ways where we can live joyful lives as disciples of Jesus Christ!
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Note: This post was first published on May 12, 2015.
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The Ascension of the Lord: Christ is present to all. Catholic Inspiration
Through the Ascension of the Lord we now look to Christ who is present to all people in all time and space for the grace we need to face the challenges of life. Be not afraid! Rather, draw strength from Jesus and engage life with the joy of the Good News.
Mass Readings – The Ascension of the Lord
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Share this:
The Ascension of the Lord
Study: Reflect on a moment of profound change in your life. What lessons did you learn?
Pray: Ask the Lord for guidance to proclaim the Good News in your current situation.
Serve: Do you know someone who is experiencing great change right now? How can you help them?
Mass Readings – The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord
About this time of year students experience transition. The academic year is coming to a close, classes are wrapping up, papers are written and exams taken. It is a time where one can clearly see change: teachers and classmates conclude their studies and look to new opportunities and experiences in the summer.
For some it might be work; others might attend summer school; still others might experience a move to a new location. Change takes many forms, but through it all some key points emerge:
- New People
- New Locations
- Opportunity to apply learning to life
The Feast of the Ascension is one such moment of profound change in the early Church. Rejoicing with one another over the Resurrection, the apostles were flying high – the Lord is risen! In this moment of enthusiasm and hope, the Lord (truly in the role of Teacher) shares with them a new lesson – it’s time to change and grow.
Now they are the ones who must teach; they are the ones chosen to proclaim the Good News; through their efforts the Holy Spirit will empower them to heal and drive out demons. Simply put, the Ascension of Jesus clears the way for the disciples to apply the Lord’s teaching in their own lives as they continue Christ’s mission in the world.
We are part of that mission. We received our faith from those who came before us, and today we have an opportunity to proclaim the Good News to those in our lives. Here are some thoughts:
- Family – who often see us in unguarded moments
- Friends – sustained and strengthened by our efforts
- Coworkers – witness our character and conviction
- Classmates – supported and encouraged in learning
- Neighbors – perceive our actions and effort
- Strangers – 1st impressions that point to Christ
- Enemies – encounter justice and mercy with forgiveness
The Good News takes many forms, and in our moments of transition we are given new opportunities to act. May the Ascension of our Lord inspire us to look for change in our own lives and seek ways where we can live joyful lives as disciples of Jesus Christ!
***************
Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
***************
Note: This blog was originally published on May 12, 2015.
Share this:
The Ascension of the Lord. Catholic Inspiration
Mass Readings – The Ascension of the Lord
We say in the creed, “He ascended into Heaven” yet we often do not consider what that means for our lives here on earth:
- Where are we going?
- What are we doing?
- How are we doing it?
With Heaven as our home we can evaluate and review our words and actions in preparation for the day when the Lord calls us to follow Him from this world to the next.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Three Great Things 