ASCENSION OF THE LORD May 17 th, 2015 GATHERING TIME (10-15 minutes)

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1 Contributed by Father Tim Uniac, C.R. Father Tim was ordained in Over the years Father Tim has served in parish ministry as both Assistant Pastor and Pastor. For a number of years he worked full time in youth ministry. He has served his Religious Community as Vocation Director and as Vicar (Assistant) Provincial. Currently he serves his Community internationally as the Vicar General, residing in Rome, Italy. Introduction to the Word: ASCENSION OF THE LORD May 17 th, 2015 GATHERING TIME (10-15 minutes) Many people are familiar with the old proverb curiosity killed the cat, a proverb that warns against the dangers of unnecessarily investigating, or continuing to investigate, some item of curiosity. It is so very tempting to allow our curiosity to lead and guide our thoughts and actions, even in the face of something dangerous, and fail to see something of greater importance right before our very eyes. Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? (Acts 1:9). As the Apostles stare in curiosity at the bodily Ascension of Jesus, a natural and understandable action on their part, they fail to see the important message right before them, namely, that Jesus is not leaving them alone, he will continue to be present to them. Imagine if the Apostles never lowered their eyes, allowing their curiosity to control them, they would never have understand that Jesus does indeed still walk with them. How different our Church would have been if the curiosity of the Apostles killed the message that Jesus remains present with us, even after the Ascension. Warm-Up Activity (about 8-10 minutes): Spend some time thinking and reflecting upon the various aspects of the Ascension of Jesus, aspects of possible curiosity that need to be addressed before one can fully understand the purpose and meaning of the Ascension. What did the Ascension look like? Did the ascending Jesus look like the earthly Jesus? Were their bright lights or voices from heaven during the Ascension? How long can you see Jesus ascending before he disappears from sight? Is there any noise associated with the Ascension, horns or heavenly choirs? Why is the Ascension necessary after Jesus is already Resurrected? Was it necessary for the Apostles to witness the Ascension in order for them to believe? What are the first words the Apostles say to one another after they have witnessed the Ascension? How does one possibly explain the Ascension to those who did not witness the event first hand? Spend a few moments sharing with the members of your group some of your reflections that you found significant. 1

2 The Table of the Word THEME The Feast of the Ascension, forty days after the Resurrection, is the final act of our redemption which began on Good Friday. On this day the humanity of Jesus is taken up into heaven, for he ascended bodily into heaven. Yet the Ascension does not mean that the ministry of Jesus, who bodily ascended, has come to an end. No, the Ascension marks a new beginning, a new era for the Christian community charged with continuing the ministry of Jesus. This moment of the Ascension is probably best described as a turning point in the life of the Church. Most certainly not a sad moment of despair and loss as we watch Jesus leave and ascend into heaven, but rather a moment of growing joy as we realize Jesus will continue to be present, all be it in a new and unusual way. As Mark's Gospel reminds us today, Jesus continued to work with, and confirm the work of the Apostles, after his Ascension (Mk 16:20). Leader: We turn to God seeking the gifts to be prophets in order to proclaim the Good News everywhere. Lord Jesus, for a deeper understanding of our call to witness, Christ Jesus, for the grace to be faithful to our calling, Lord Jesus, for the strength to proclaim to the ends of the earth, Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Let us pray O God, whose Son today ascended to the heavens as the Apostles looked on, grant, we pray, that, in accordance with his promise we may be worthy for him to live with us always on earth, and we with him in heaven. We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE REFLECTION TIME (45 minutes) (As Christians we believe that the WORD of God we hear proclaimed each Sunday is an empowering Word, and that God is present in the Word proclaimed. This is the Word that God wants us to hear today. The dynamic of the Small Christian Community, namely, reflecting on our life story within the context of this Word, and sharing the insights of these reflections, is such that God s Spirit becomes present, and the gifts of the Spirit are experienced as empowering and life giving. Because it is a privileged time it is incumbent on us in the small group to proclaim God s Word with due reverence, to be attentive to this proclamation, and respectful of the communal interaction. The facilitator has arranged for group members to proclaim the three readings). FIRST READING (Acts 1:1 11) In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 2

3 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. This, he said, is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel? He replied, It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set 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, in all 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 out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They 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. Thanks be to God. SECOND READING (Ephesians 4:1 13) Brothers and sisters: I, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ s gift. Therefore it is said, When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people. When it says, He ascended, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things. The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. GOSPEL (Mark 16:15 20) A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark. Glory to you, O Lord. Jesus appeared to the eleven, and he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who 3

4 does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Lectio Divina means sacred prayer. It was a popular form of prayer in the early Church. This Word proclaimed today is God s own Word, God s way of speaking to you today through his own Spirit. So take a few moments to be quiet, allowing this Word you have just heard to touch you as you reflect quietly on the three readings. Is there a word or thought that somehow attracts you or has your interest? If so, simply identify it no need to explain it just identify it. COMMENTARY: Acts opens with an explanation of the books purpose by offering a summary of the final chapter of the Gospel of Luke, thus making clear the same author wrote both books, and presenting Acts as book two of a two book series. Acts will attempt to convince the reader that Jesus is indeed alive, and with the Holy Spirit a new era for the Christian community begins. It has been forty days since Jesus' resurrection, and during (those) forty days (v. 3) Jesus has been teaching and preparing the disciples to receive the Holy Spirit at the Ascension. Jesus is preparing his disciples to continue his ministerial work through the same Holy Spirit that guided his ministry, bringing his message to the ends of the earth (v.8). Interestingly Acts will conclude at Rome, the center of the empire, an empire which extends to all known ends of the earth, thus bringing the task of extending Jesus' message to the ends of the earth by the disciples to its fruition. Ascension unfolds on the Mount of Olives, the very Mount where God will come in the final judgment (Zech. 14:3-21). Thus, the men in white robes remind the disciples that Jesus will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven (v. 11). The Letter to the Ephesians is one of the New Testament letters included in what is called Deutero-Pauline Epistles. This designation means the authorship by Paul is disputed, therefore most likely written not by Paul but by someone writing in Paul's name. Today's passage opens with an exhortation to live a life worthy of one's calling, a life lived in unity with the Spirit. By living a life of unity the oneness of the Christian community will become a reality: one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all (v. 4-6). Yet even in the midst of all this oneness there is found a diversity of gifts within the members of the community, gifts poured out by the Ascended Christ in order to bring about perfect unity of faith. Mark's Gospel today will see Jesus commissioning his disciples to go forth proclaiming the Good News while possessing the authority of Jesus to make disciples, baptize, teach, and do all Jesus commanded. While Acts speaks of the disciples being endowed with the gift of the Holy Spirit for this ministry, Mark makes no mention of the Holy Spirit, nor even suggests the disciples return to Jerusalem to await the Holy Spirit. For Mark, the disciples are commanded to go and proclaim the Good News, and they go. Perhaps this approach by Mark might be linked to verse 14 (which does 4

5 not appear in today's Lectionary reading). In verse 14 Jesus upbraided the disciples for Stubbornness and lack of faith and a failure to believe the news of Jesus' resurrection from those who saw the Risen Lord. In other words, Jesus is forcefully reminding the disciples that with belief, with faith, they have the ability to respond to this great commission of proclaiming the Good News. Lest we think faith and belief is all that is needed, Mark leaves us with an amazingly consoling message the Lord worked with them... (v. 20). Even after the resurrection and ascension Jesus continues to be present to his disciples, he does not abandon them to their own devices, Jesus walks with them, with US. Allow about 5 10 minutes for the participants to react to the Commentary to identify a newly discovered insight or an idea newly described. Questions for Reflection and Discussion: Acts 1:1-11 You will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth. Jesus makes clear to his disciples that he is asking them to leave all they know, their familiar surroundings, their families and friends, and go to foreign lands to proclaim the Good News. Imagine yourself as a disciple hearing this commission. Do you believe the Holy Spirit is sufficient to help you in this task? Where did Jesus go? Has he abandoned me? Can this possibly work? Ephesians 4:1-13 Lead a life worthy of the calling Ephesians reminds us to live a worthy life not simply for our own good, but ultimately for the good of the community (read here family, faith community, world community, etc). This is a challenging call, inviting us to move beyond selfishness and personal gain, for the good of the community. How are you doing with this call in your life? Mark 16:15-20 They proclaimed the good news everywhere Jesus asks his disciples to proclaim the good news everywhere. While the world was considerably smaller in those days compared to today, the call was still a huge and demanding challenge. What does it mean for us to hear this call, to be told to continue the ministry of the disciples and proclaim the good news everywhere? CARING-PRAYING TIME: (15-20 minutes) Word of the Week: Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. Suggestion for the Week: The Church, sharing in humanities (sic) joys and hopes, in its anxieties and sadness, stands with every man and woman of every place and time, to bring them the good news of the Kingdom of God, which in Jesus Christ has come and continues to be present among them (Gaudium et Spes, paragraph 58). This quote from the Vatican II document makes clear a number of things: one, the Church is called to be present to everyone, everywhere; two, the Church is to proclaim the good 5

6 news; and three, Jesus continues to be present. These three themes are found in all three readings today. Spend some time this week reflecting on how the Church has/is responding to this call to proclaim the good news to everyone, everywhere. How do you experience the continuing presence of Jesus in the community of the Church? Intercessions: (Response: Lord, hear our prayer) Leader: Through the intercession of the Ascended Christ we offer these our prayers For those in positions of leadership, may they be open to the work of the Spirit, and lead lives worthy of their calling, we pray For those entrusted to carry the Good News to the ends of the earth, may they be loving and honest witnesses to all to whom they minister, we pray For all people of faith who believe in one body, one baptism, one God and Father of all, may we remain united in faith through the grace of the Spirit, we pray May the gifts of apostleship, prophecy, evangelism, pastors and teachers, help the community of faith to grow towards full knowledge and maturity in Christ, we pray For those seeking to understand their calling, may their life of prayer, and life as members of the community of faith, help them to hear and respond with generosity of heart, we pray For those who have died, especially those most dear to our hearts, may they experience the full hope and promise of the Resurrection, we pray... How can we help you in prayer this week? Let us pray (together) Gladden us with holy joys, almighty God, and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving, for the Ascension of Christ your Son is our exaltation, and, where the Head has gone before in glory, the body is called to follow in hope. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. With hands and hearts united in gratitude for God's favors on us today, we pray that all those in our influence be moved to be open to your Word and your Spirit, while we say as one, Our Father NEW CONTACT INFO: Celebrating the Word, Resurrection Ministries of the Congregation of the Resurrection Ontario-Kentucky Province (including the former Resurrection Centre), 265 Westmount Road North, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G7. (Celebrating the Word was founded by Father Frank Ruetz, C.R., deceased 2012). For information or to become a member: Toll Free: website: The Scripture version used in this commentary is the New Revised Standard Version (copyrighted by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA). 6