Ascension of the Lord

This feast of the Ascension marks the commissioning of the Church to do its great work here on earth. The purpose of our salvation is not to escape the earth by heading skywards, but rather the transfiguration on earth by heaven. This beautiful feast matters because as members of the mystical body of Christ, our job is to continue his work of bringing heaven and earth together. The readings today reinforce this message and clearly articulated by Jesus when he prayed to the Father ...'Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'

Readings

Acts 1:1-11   ...'and you will be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and throughout Judea and Samaria and indeed to the ends of the earth.' Acts 1:8

Psalm 46 (47)  'God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.'

A version of this psalm is available as a pdf from Michael Herry fms HERE

 Eph 4:1-13 or Eph 1:17-23   'He has put all things under his feet and has given him as head above all things to the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.' Eph 1:22-23

Mk 16:15-20   ‘And he said to them, “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." Mark 16:15

'And the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven; and sat down at the right hand of God, while they, going out, proclaimed the good news everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.’ Mark 16:19-20

Sing

Alleluia, sing to Jesus.

A Youtube version available HERE 

'Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…'

Section of a painting of the Ascension by Giotto