The Ascension of the Lord
Throughout the season of Easter, we ponder the mysteries that are central to our faith in Jesus Christ. We reflect on Jesus’ life, ministry, passion, death, and resurrection and consider the meaning of Christ’s life and love. Today we celebrate Jesus’ ascension and wonder with the apostles what we are to do and how we are to live as a result. As disciples, we are called to put our faith into action, grow to be more like the Lord, be united with other believers in community, and bring others to Christ through the way we live our lives. In so doing, we will live a life worthy of our call in Christ, a life of unity in the Spirit, of hope and peace.
WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT THE SKY?
“Why are you standing there looking at the sky?” We can only imagine the apostles’ astonishment, not only at Jesus’ ascension, but at the message from the men in white garments who appeared at that very moment. Jesus had been crucified and died, rose from the dead and spent time with them, teaching them to understand how he had fulfilled all that had been written about the Messiah, and suddenly, he was taken up to heaven. Surely they would have wondered what was happening and what the meaning of Jesus’ ascension was. We wonder with them. What does Jesus’ ascension call us to be or do? We rely on the testimony of those who were with Jesus to grasp the mystery of his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Their witness calls us to believe in Jesus, grow in relationship with him, and live as his disciples in the world.
YOU HAVE SEEN AND HEARD, NOW GO DO
It isn’t enough to say we believe in Jesus. We are called to live as members of Christ’s body and share the joy of faith with others. We do this by discerning and fulfilling our vocation, the ways in which God calls each of us to live. Often when we think of vocation, the first thing that comes to mind is the priesthood. But each of us experience vocational calls, to our state in life and to the ways in which we live, work, and serve. Each of us has been given different gifts and are called according to our gifts. We are equipped with talents and skills through which we may contribute to bringing the mercy, compassion, truth, goodness, and beauty of God’s love to the world. What are your particular gifts and talents? How may you be called to use them to bring Christ’s love to others, leading them to see and hear the Good News of Jesus Christ?