The Ascension of the Lord Year A Readings, Lectionary #59

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1 The Ascension of the Lord Year A Readings, Lectionary #59 Begin in prayer Spend a few moments in prayer before reading the Scripture. Ask the Lord to let his Word speak to your heart. Give me your Spirit, Lord: a spirit of wisdom and a spirit of revelation as I prepare to speak to your daughters and sons. Be with me now, Holy Spirit, as I prepare my homily for next weekend. Guide my words and my life to reflect the joy you bring. Amen. Liturgical Context The feast of the Ascension is an incredibly important feast; it is an integral element of the Easter event. While similar to the resurrection, its import and nuance is slightly different and is of extreme importance to our understanding of salvation history. We are not to consider the feast in a literal, historical manner. The focus of the feast is the exaltation of the risen Christ. Jesus is enthroned in heaven. Consider what we know from the Gospels. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day and returned to the Father. He appeared to his disciples after the resurrection, yet his appearances reflected his heavenly, altered state. Even though Luke and John relate the Ascension and the Resurrection separately they are considered one event. In Luke s Gospel Jesus ascends into heaven on Easter Sunday night or the next day. John places Jesus Ascension after his appearance to Mary Magdalene and Luke situates it forty days [symbolic number for divine revelation] after the Resurrection in the Acts of the Apostles. The General Norms for the Liturgical Year and Calendar (#7) stresses the connection in this feast between the Passion, Resurrection, Ascension, and Sending of the Spirit. The Feast of the Ascension is a solemnity. In locales where it is not

2 designated a holy day of obligation, it is moved to the next Sunday. Thus some episcopal conferences celebrate this feast on Sunday, replacing the Seventh Sunday of Easter. The feast is still celebrated forty days after Easter in order to allow proper time and space for prayer and meditation. The Ascension is the prelude to the Sending of the Spirit. The Acts of the Apostles reminds us that Jesus went to the mountain where he breathed his Spirit upon the world. He poured forth the Spirit for his work of ongoing redemption and continuation of the covenant he forged when he established his reign on earth. The Ascension is a sure sign of the hope of the resurrection we all share. Because Jesus ascended to sit at his Father s right hand we will one day share the beatific vision with him in heaven. Approach the Text Read the Scripture for this Sunday several times. Let its words and phrases truly affect you. Use the Lectio Divina method (available from PastoralPlanning.com as part of this homily kit) to allow the Word to fill your heart and excite you about the homily you are preparing. Begin by reading through all the readings for this weekend. FIRST READING: Acts of the Apostles 1:-11 "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." We sometimes stand gazing up into the skies, looking for answers and searching for Christ. In fact, he is all around us. The telling of the Ascension event in the Acts of the Apostles focuses on the implications for the church s mission and the future return of Jesus Christ. The new community is feverishly preparing for the mission to which it has been called. Ministers are commissioned and the community prepares itself to go forth. Echoes of Pentecost ring through the text. We are given a glimpse of Spirit as part of the Godhead not just the force that extends power. The Spirit is a sure sign of God s grace and presence. The number forty signifies a theological reality the time of God s revelation that is set aside for our contemplation and reflection. Acts anticipates and prepares for Pentecost but the perspective is broader than a considering it in terms of a one-time event. Pentecost is understood as an ongoing reality in the community of believers. You may find fodder for your homily in this idea, that Pentecost continues today. Acts makes it abundantly clear that the work that goes forth is God s design, not human design. The text ends with Galileans being rebuked for looking heavenward rather than forward to the mission that lie ahead of them a message as relevant for us today as it was then. We are all called to work to build the reign of God here and now as we await the future glory with God in heaven. Preparing the Homily Mary Birmingham PastoralPlanning.com Page 2

3 For your reflection When you consider your own Christian community, in what way do you see the Holy Spirit active in the lives of the community, in your life? You may find a story in this reflection for your homily this week. There appears to be urgency about going forth to proclaim the reign of God. Where is such urgency needed today? Why is that same urgency needed today? What are the obstacles to such urgency? What is the challenge for your life? SECOND READING: Ephesians 1:17-23 May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call. Love reigns above all things. The letter to the Ephesians was probably written by one of Paul s disciples. It opens with a prayer of thanks originating from an ancient liturgy s prayer of thanksgiving. The letter prays for the community to grow in wisdom and knowledge of the risen and exalted Christ. We are filled with the brilliance of Christ s light when we truly come to know God. Christ s light is so brilliant within us that we can hardly perceive it. The reading praises the exalted and risen Lord who reigns triumphant over the universe. The glorified Christ reigns not only over believers but also over the whole world even those who have yet to be awakened to his light. Believers recognize the voice of their heavenly Father and have a responsibility to introduce him to the world. For your reflection In what way, if any, have you been aware of Christ s light within you? Where is there evidence of that light? If Christ s light exists within you, what are the implications for the way you live your life? You may find material for your homily in this reflection. Can you name ways in which the light of Christ shines in your parish? If we are called to share that light with others and the scriptures insist that we are, what is the best strategy for doing that? In what way have you shared the Light of Christ with others? How might you share that light in the future? What are the obstacles? GOSPEL: Matthew 28:16-20 "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations." When we baptize, we lead folks to embrace the call to holiness. We invite them to go into the water inclined toward selfishness but to emerge as practitioners of self-giving love. What specifically touched you in this Gospel? What does this Gospel mean to you? Preparing the Homily Mary Birmingham PastoralPlanning.com Page 3

4 Luke ends his Gospel by recounting the Ascension and he begins his second volume, the Acts of the Apostles, picking up where he left off. The Ascension signaled a new beginning. The focus is now on the Church. The Ascension is the launch pad for the fledgling church. Jesus had to be exalted, returned in glory to his Father and reign from his heavenly throne, for the mission of the Church to go out into the world. Reference to Jesus death and Resurrection his Paschal Mystery is the fulfillment of salvation history. The church now can go forth and witness to the salvation God accomplished through his Son, the Christ. The work can now begin faith must be proclaimed and nurtured if doubt is to be overcome. The apostles were even slow to fully comprehend all that Jesus taught them. Aware of the daunting task before them, they now go forth, empowered by the Spirit to teach as Jesus taught them. Then and now the sharing and witness of faith and the sharing and witness of Scripture proclaims the salvation won for us by Christ. It is our responsibility to help keep the flame alive in the hearts of believers to go forth no matter the cost. The scene at the end of Luke s Gospel portrays apostles being given the divine commission to go forth, empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the work of making Church as they await his return in glory. For your reflection What does it mean to you that you are to become the living word of God in the world? In what way have you been the living word of God in the world? How can you, one individual person, go about the business of making church? What does it involve to make church? What attitudes, behaviors, actions are needed to accomplish Jesus command? You may be able to speak about what it means to make church in people s daily lives in their homes, jobs, and schools. How is each home within your parish itself a little church? What do you need from the Holy Spirit if you are really to go forth as Jesus commanded? What are some ways that you can follow Jesus command in your own environment? Take an inward glance Think about how the call to holiness is embedded in this week s liturgy: "It is not for you to know." How uncomfortable does it make you, that the future is "not for you to know"? Is the future a source of stress or anxiety for you? How do you handle the mysteriousness of what lies in store for you?

5 "All you peoples, clap your hands." The ability to celebrate is essential for preachers and teachers alike. How easy do you find it to enter into a celebration-- and to lead others in festive applause? Name the ways that your preaching or teaching encourages such festivity. "Eyes of your hearts." What things can your heart "see" that your mind cannot see? "The heart is slow to learn," said Edna St. Vincent Millay, "what the swift mind perceives at every turn." What is taking your heart a long time to learn? "But they doubted." Think back over your journey of faith. What has constituted the source of your doubts? What have you done about such doubts? With whom do you share the ups and downs of your faith journey? "Jesus approached." How do you become aware that Jesus is "near"? When have you been most aware of Jesus' presence? Have you ever asked for "signs" of Jesus' blessed assurance? When you approach others, how do you try to be Jesus for others as you do so? "Until the end of the age." Jesus assures us of his abiding presence. In what ways do you try to give such assurance to others? Do your brothers and sisters feel secure in that assurance, as a result of your homilies? Take an outward glance Think about how the call to holiness is embedded in the daily experiences of the people to whom you will be speaking: "All that Jesus did and taught..." As you prepare to speak of Scripture this week, be aware that not everyone is familiar with all the teachings of Jesus. You can help them by patiently offering them hints and clues as you speak. "Which is his body." How aware are your sisters and brothers that they (and you) are Christ's body? What do they need to hear from their homilist about this allimportant post-ascension truth? Affirm the ways that your parishioners act as Christ's body during the week each act of self-giving love imitates Christ. "Baptizing them." This is a good week to remind everyone what baptism means for us. In it, we made a vow: to imitate Christ by shedding our ego and putting on Christ like a garment. What more needs to be done in order to transform your parish into a truly "baptismal" community--drawing others into Christ's body with the example of their Christian living? Preparing the Homily Mary Birmingham PastoralPlanning.com Page 5

6 Speaking of Scripture Preparing the 8-minute homily The Spirit is coming! Maybe your homily preparation this week has helped to get you excited about the Spirit's presence in your life and in the life of your parish. Try to preach as someone who longs to be emboldened by that Spirit. The Easter season is coming to an end: don't miss the chance to heighten the expectations of your assembly! You can do this best by sharing a story from your own journey of faith. Let your community see how the Spirit is working in your life. What image comes to mind for you this week? Is there a moment in your life where you really felt the powerful presence of the Spirit? Sharing that moment may offer others a glimpse into such moments in their lives. Have you ever felt lost and stood looking around, wondering what was next? That s what the apostles felt in the moments before they understood that Jesus was with them in this new way. Timing Homily notes Memo 30 seconds Greet everyone and say one thing to connect with what is on the mind of the community news, weather, sports, parish events, visitors, a special group which is present, or other. Humor is good here. God is sending his love through you to your listeners. 1-2 minutes Tell a story or provide an image that will fire the imagination of your listeners. Do not launch into a treatment of the readings. This image or story must be one that is easy to understand by everyone, young and old. Avoid using standard jokes here. Instead, as you prepare the homily, what comes to mind as illustrative of the message in the readings? 3-4 minutes Connect that image now to the message in today s readings. Again, avoid providing commentary on the readings or exegesis which is disconnected from your image. You want people to remember what you say and take it home. What hope does the message today offer to your listeners? Keep this very short. It takes any group of people a few seconds to get used to the sound of your voice in a room and this is a way to begin that will help your listeners hear you. Again, make sure this stays brief. The point of the homily is not you or your story but the Word of God and this image or story is a way to set the stage for that. Make two or three quick points here. Remember that the message must fit into the lives of the people in front of you. Preparing the Homily Mary Birmingham PastoralPlanning.com Page 6

7 1-2 minutes Return to the liturgy. Gesture toward the altar and say, Let s come back here now to this liturgy You re setting the stage for what will follow. Make a quick connection between the message today and the Eucharist. 30 second Thank your listeners and end on a very positive note. How will celebrating Eucharist and receiving communion change you and your listeners? How will it help them incorporate the message of today s readings into their daily lives? Sit down. Conclude in prayer To conclude your preparation, think about the community for whom you ve just prepared to preach or teach, and spend a few moments in prayer. Lord, you are a great King over all the earth. May our shouts of joy offer you fitting praise. I open myself to the wisdom you alone can give and I offer myself as the earthen vessel which will carry your Word to these people. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Preparing the Homily Mary Birmingham PastoralPlanning.com Page 7