The Gospel of John that is read on the Vigil of Pentecost says that “there was . . . no Spirit yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified” (John 7:39). Obviously, the Spirit is co-eternal with the Father and the Son, so John is trying to get our attention. He means that we could not experience the gifts of the Spirit until Jesus had died and risen from the dead. One way of looking at the Ascension is that Jesus can do much more for us in his glory than he could while on Earth. How does this work? It happens in two steps. First, he sends the Holy Spirit to the disciples. Second, the disciples become his witnesses to all the nations. Let’s look at the first step.
While Jesus walked the earth, he chose to be limited in time and space so that a few people could get to know and love him. But after his resurrection, he could be more effective by sending his Spirit to all believers. Because he has ascended into glory, he can live in all of us. And that leads to the second step.
Before his death, Jesus began to collect a group of followers. Some got to know him more deeply and became disciples. The rest of the followers were merely curious or attracted by stories of miracles he had performed. But after his ascension, the disciples began to experience Jesus in each other. They could not help but be excited about that and spread that excitement to others. May we all experience that presence in the Spirit, seeing Jesus in ourselves and others.
Tom Schmidt, Diocesan Publications
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord | USCCB
All three readings talk about Jesus being taken up into heaven or in a cloud or on high. These descriptions of the ascension actually tell us that Jesus is reunited with His Father and exalted in glory with the Father. Jesus not only has a new life that cannot be ended by death, He also is no longer limited by time or space as He was before He died. What does that mean for us?
Because He is not limited, He can be with us everywhere. Through His Spirit, He gives us the power and the courage to act as Jesus and the vision of faith so see Jesus in others. Now this takes some practice. One way we learn is through the lives of the saints. We see how God works through them to do great things. We learn that they become more and more like Jesus, in how they treat others with love and respect.
But if the saints seem too distant, we can look at someone we love. Whether it is a parent, spouse, brother, sister or friend, the good that they do and the love they show is from God. We can learn about God’s love for us by letting ourselves be loved by another.
The other side of the coin is seeing Jesus in ourselves. We may have to forgive ourselves for the bad choices we have made in the past, or the bad habits we still have. We also have to accept that God really does love us as his children. And we have to accept that sometimes, even when we do our best, we still seem to fail. But the God who brings life out of death also brings success out of failure. So, trust His promise that we have Jesus in us. Then do your best to follow Jesus and you may lead someone else to Him.
Tom Schmidt, Diocesan Publications
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord | USCCB
Jesus gave his disciples a final instruction before He was lifted up.
In a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you and you will be My witnesses.
You too, have, and will again, receive power to be His witnesses.
Remember what He said and did.
Why are you looking at the sky?
Readings: The Ascension of the Lord | USCCB
Jesus had finished His earthly mission and returned to strengthen His disciples.
He showed them that it was not a dream.
He promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide them.
He promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Pray that you will be open to hearing the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit.
Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052922-ascension.cfm
Jesus is the ultimate reality that is forever present to us.
Jesus is not an idea but the abiding connection of God to us.
He challenges us to accept his work and his reality and spread it throughout our world.
Our faith is to be an earthy reality connected to our everyday life and the life of others.
Are we ready to exercise our faith by doing His work?
Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051621-Ascension.cfm
Jesus gave his disciples a final instruction before He was lifted up.
In a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you and you will be My witnesses.
You too, have, and will again, receive power to be His witnesses.
Remember what He said and did.
Why are you looking at the sky?
– The lifting up of Jesus on the cross signifies and announces His lifting up by his Ascension into heaven.
– In our Christian life, entering the glory of God demands daily fidelity to His will, even when it demands sacrifice and sometimes requires us to change our plans.
– We have One who always defends us from the snares of the devil, who defends us from ourselves and from our sins!
– The Apostles returned to Jerusalem “with great joy.” But how could this be? With the gaze of faith they understand.
– Jesus stays with us forever, He does not abandon us and in the glory of the Father supports, guides and intercedes for us.
