Feast of Our Lord
Ascension Day (also known as Ascension Thursday in some countries or the Feast of the Ascension) refers to Jesus bodily ascending to heaven. According to the New Testament, the Ascension of Jesus occurring 40 days after the Easter on a Thursday (and ten days before Pentecost) but some religious celebrate it on Sunday in the sixth week following Easter Sunday. The Feast of the Ascension is one of the great solemnities in the Christian liturgical calendar.
The Acts of the Apostles says that after the resurrection Jesus stayed with his apostles for 40 days. Afterwards, they came to the Mount of Olives from where Jesus ascended to heaven to be with God. Following days prepare faithful for Pentecost.
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (1:1-11) is used in Years A, B and C. It gives Luke’s account of the Ascension. Luke tells us “he was lifted up while they (the disciples) looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two men in white were standing near them and said, ‘Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there.’”
The second reading for Year A is from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (1:17-23). In it Paul prays that God may “enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers.” In the second reading for Year B also from Ephesians (4:1-13) Paul exhorts us to “live a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience.” The second reading for Year C is from the letter to the Hebrews (9:24-28; 10:19-23). In it we are reminded that “it is not as though Christ entered a man-made sanctuary which was only modelled on the real one; but it was heaven itself, so that he could appear in the actual presence of God on our behalf…Let us keep firm in the hope we profess, because the one who made the promise is faithful.”
In the Gospel for Year A we hear Matthew’s account (28:16-20) of the Ascension. We hear Jesus’ command to his disciples to “Go, therefore, make disciples of the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.” In Year B the Gospel is from Mark (16:15-20). Mark tells us “the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven: there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.” In Year C the from Luke (24:46-53) reports Jesus’ words to the disciples before His Ascension and the promise of the Holy Spirit “Stay in the city then, until you are clothed with the power from on high.”