Texts taken from the “On Your Word” Missal May-June 2023

Ascension of the Lord (solemnity) (A)
proper

FIRST READING

From the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:1-11)
In the first account, O Theophilus, I dealt with everything that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up into heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He showed himself alive to them after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them and speaking about the kingdom of God for forty days. While he was at table with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the fulfillment of the Father's promise, “the promise,” he said, “you heard from me: John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” But he replied, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were gazing up toward heaven as he went, behold, two men in white garments stood beside 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.” – The Word of the Lord.

Commentary on the first reading

The evangelist Luke opens his account of the Acts of the Apostles with the mission Jesus gives on the day when he ascends into heaven and withdraws from human sight; having completed his visible presence, he now “transfers” to heaven, but in order to live forever with his disciples, in his Church. Rather than an ascent toward another place, then, it is better to speak of a transfer from one condition to another. From that moment onward, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is present wherever the holy Eucharist is celebrated, in every faithful heart that prays, in every home where he is placed at the center of the day. It is the gift of being everywhere: to be everywhere at the same time. For this reason the angels say, “Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?” Heaven indicates transcendence and height, but now we are all invited to live Christ's life through an act of faith and love, so that the Lord's words may be fulfilled now: “Remain in me, and I in you.” Jesus is therefore at the same time in heaven and in our hearts, at the right hand of the Father and in the holy Eucharist of today's Mass as well.

SECOND READING

From the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians (Eph 1:17-23)
Brothers and sisters, may the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might. He put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And 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. – The Word of the Lord.

Commentary on the second reading

In this passage from the letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle exalts the greatness of the risen Christ. Jesus is not simply an ordinary man: “power,” “might,” “strength,” “greatness,” and so on are words that abound in these few lines. Christianity is modesty and humility, it is true, but our God is magnificent; he has a name above every other name and has placed everything beneath his feet. Holding together such smallness and such immense greatness seems impossible, but Christianity unites opposites: consider, for example, the Virgin Mary, who was queen of heaven and earth even when, in the humble house of Nazareth, she dusted the kitchen furniture, unknown to everyone. Today we look upon the greatness of the Lord Jesus, seated at the right hand of the Father, and we remember that in every weakness, trial or suffering of ours, we have the Head of the Body who lives in glory and communicates his victory over evil to us. Every fear will then be cast down and every sadness banished, because if we live in the Body of Christ, we are at the same time both on earth and in heaven.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 28:16-20)
At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” – The Gospel of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel of the day

The Lord's ascension into heaven marks the beginning of the time of the Church, called to communicate to all people, generation after generation, the new life of the Holy Spirit, mutual love, modesty, piety and goodness, and filial and humble adherence to the Trinitarian life. Proclamation is not enough: Baptism is necessary, because God's power comes from above and not from human beings. To deny Baptism means not knowing the power of God and, ultimately, the meaning of human life. We must fear nothing, because Jesus “has been given all power,” and this is transmitted to all the baptized; we are speaking of the power of love, which has indescribable strength. No human power can compare with it, because this strength can even make us love our enemies. We must therefore teach the Gospel without fear, because we have the assurance of the divine presence of the Lord Jesus in us and with us, every day. Can there then be an empty day? Can there be a useless life? No: everything is vital, purposeful and ardent in the Church of Christ. “I want nothing except that it burn,” said a monk on the day when, after saying farewell to his relatives, he entered the cloister forever.