Search

Results

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Cycle B

20 May 2012

SUNDAY SUMMARY Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 For 40 more days the disciples enjoy the revelation and instruction of the Risen Lord. Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 God receives royal acclaim in heaven and on earth: blaring trumpets and clapping hands. Ephesians 1:17-23 or 4:1-13 or 4:1-7, 11-13 Christ returns to heaven in the glory of victory, distributing gifts to his church. Mark 16:15-20 Jesus departs for the heavens while the disciples are dispatched to the ends of the earth. For a link to the SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, CYCLE B, click here.

Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Ephesians 1:17-23 Ephesians 4:1-13 Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 Mark 16:15-20 Ascension Sunday

Restricted
Don't look up

Funeral, Sacrament-based, Holy Day, Holiday, Special Occasion - Sample homilies to be adapted for your use

Holy days/feasts: Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Readings: Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11; Ephesians 4:1-13 or 1:17-23; Mark 16:15-20 THE PORTRAITS OF THE ASCENSION I like most are the ones that begin and end with Jesus’ feet. Of course the heads of the disciples gather at the bottom of the frame, staring upward with open mouths. But all we see of Jesus are his feet disappearing at the top edge of the picture. His great exit is in process, and all that will be left behind is the advice of a couple of angels. The disciples, for obvious reasons, are fixated on the heels of Jesus. But the angels tell them something we could take to heart, too: “Why are you standing looking up at the sky?” They remind the disciples that their focus should not be on the Jesus who is gone, but on the Jesus who will return in the same way. Although the Ascension is a pretty spectacular event from the perspective of those on the ground, our real concern is the Jesus who returns to us, in every hour until the final hour, and his coming kingdom, which we pray for whenever we pray the prayer he taught us. Don’t look up, the angels say. Look out. Look within! Don’t get caught up in what is already past, but see what’s happening right now. Participate in the kingdom, which is coming in every new decision, in each word and action, in your relationships, in the choice for love, compassion, and forgiveness! This angelic advice is all about perspective. If we focus too much on heaven, over which we have no control—if we view religion as a matter of “what goes up”—then we’ll miss what’s “going down” all around us. And that’s something about which we have a lot of control, not to mention a lot of responsibility. AS A FEAST DAY, the Ascension tends to get lost in the “what goes up” phase of our imagination. We, too, look up until our necks ache, forgetting that the story we’re being told is neither history nor biography, but gospel. The gospel is faith spoken to faith. The gospel speaks to believers about the meaning of what they believe. Once Jesus returns to his Father, our business lies not with the realm we can’t see but the busy, complicated, tangible world we are immersed in. Once Jesus returns to his Father, our business lies not with the realm we can’t see but the busy, complicated, tangible world we are immersed in." And what should we be doing in this world? Jesus gives some interesting advice to his disciples at the end of Mark’s gospel. He says, “Proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Jesus also offers signs that will accompany believers: Demons will be driven out, new languages will be spoken, deadly serpents will be handled without harm, and the sick will recover through the laying on of hands. Well, how are we to take that? Some Christians still practice “deliverance” from demons as a regular part of their ministry. Charismatics and Pentecostals speak in tongues and diligently engage in faith healing—sometimes even to the point of refusing medical care for themselves and their children. A sect of Appalachian Christians handles poisonous snakes at their worship services to prove their faith in the Holy Spirit’s power to protect them from harm. I do not doubt that there is a literal dimension to the power of the Holy Spirit to affect miraculous healing, to keep us from harm, to banish our demons, or to burst forth in the “language of angels,” as Saint Paul described the gift of tongues. But keeping our sight focused on the equally miraculous world around us—the world we take for granted as “normal”—we can still see these gifts at work. Who among us has not been amazed at the renewed experience of life after a fever is gone or depression clears and health is restored? Who has not felt the deep protection of God in the midst of crisis or grief or fear? How many of us have participated in the banishing of demons that enslaved us with addiction, habits of sin that tear us apart, or negative ways of thinking that once crushed our ability to hope? Haven’t we known moments when “the words just came out” and we knew what to say to someone in pain or in need? Is there anyone here who hasn’t seen an absolutely splendid day and praised God along with it? In the celebration of Jesus’ Ascension, we recognize that we ascend, too, through the grasp of what binds us to our brokenness and sin. In all these ways, Jesus comes again, and we meet him, eye to eye, right where we live.

Authors Alice Camille

holy day/feast Ascension Ephesians 4:1-13 Ephesians 1:17-23 Mark 16:15-20 Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11
Last words

Funeral, Sacrament-based, Holy Day, Holiday, Special Occasion - Sample homilies to be adapted for your use

Occasion: Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Readings: Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23 or 4:1-13; Mark 16:15-20 Last words come hard. The dying, often weak from infirmity, at times pained by disease, struggle to speak to their loved ones who gather around. Jesus himself, while crucified, uttered what traditionally are known as the "Seven Last Words." Many a Catholic in a bygone age memorized these last sayings of Jesus as part of their religion lessons. And the composer Franz Josef Haydn wrote The Seven Last Words of Christ, a magnificent chorale and orchestra piece centering on Jesus' last utterances from the cross. Memorable though they are, we know from two of today's readings that Jesus' words from the cross were not his last. Just 40 days ago we celebrated Easter, the Resurrection, after which Jesus continued to speak on earth until that moment we celebrate today, his Ascension. The reading from the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles focuses on the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit the apostles were chosen. And Christ tells the apostles they will soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Jesus' last words in the Acts of the Apostles center directly on the promise of Holy Spirit: ". . . . You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses, not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth." Our gospel today takes this promise and prophecy further. These last words of Jesus continue to describe the responsibilities of receiving the Holy Spirit. Christ tells the apostles the gospel needs to be proclaimed throughout the whole world, the good news needs to be shared with all creation. Exuberant activity will be signs of those who believe: casting out devils, the gift of tongues, aversion to poisons, and curing the sick. Such exuberant moments, if your life is like mine, are not usually part of day-to-day activities. Yet, we believe the Holy Spirit is very much a part of our sacred tradition, breathing sacred power into our secular lives. Such exuberant moments, if your life is like mine, are not usually part of day-to-day activities. Yet, we believe the Holy Spirit is very much a part of our sacred tradition, breathing sacred power into our secular lives. In the second reading we see the results of receiving the Holy Spirit. Paul, the famed apostle to the Gentiles, who traveled the then known world preaching the gospel, exhorts the Ephesians to live their lives to "preserve the unity of the Spirit." "Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness, and patience." These day-to-day virtues, simple in utterance but difficult in behavior, are attainable with the aid of the Spirit. They are the ordinary manifestations of an extraordinary event, the coming of the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus immediately before his Ascension. Paul tells the Ephesians and, ultimately, ourselves, even more. He tells us that people's public lives also accept and reflect the Holy Spirit in a variety of ways. "And to some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the Body of Christ." Ideally, faith is very much part of our daily lives. We believe in the creation of the Father, the message of his Son, and the power of the Holy Spirit. On this Ascension Day, faith is what draws us together in this celebration of the Eucharist, and it is what sends us forth into our everyday lives. It is what drew the apostles to Jesus. Faith brought them to the moment of Christ's Ascension when he took earthly leave of his friends, but not without a promise, the promise of the Holy Spirit. This Spirit challenges our dubious behavior and undergirds our best behavior. This Spirit inspires us to be generative and generous in our day-to-day lives. This Spirit guides us to embrace a particular calling in life for the spread of the kingdom and the good of others. The promise of living Spirit-filled lives, both individually and socially, is perhaps often less dramatic but ultimately more impressive than casting out demons and speaking in tongues. The promise of Jesus' Ascension is more than a call to lead faithful lives. It is the promise of assistance in living faith-filled lives-lives that will proclaim Christ to our families, our communities, and, indeed, our whole world. May we all ascend to living exuberantly Spirit-filled lives that Jesus himself promised in his last words before his own Ascension.

Authors Peter Gilmour

holy day/feast Ascension Ephesians 1:17-23 Ephesians 4:1-13 Mark 16:15-20 Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Cycle B

17 May 2015

SUNDAY SUMMARY Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 Even after the Resurrection, the disciples concern themselves with earthly power. Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Above every principality and power, God rules over the earth. Ephesians 4:1-13 or 1:17-23 Paul describes the offices of service that will lift up the community of faith. Mark 16:15-20 Snake-handling, poison-drinking, and tongue-speaking find their origins here. For a link to the SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, CYCLE B, please click here.

Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Ephesians 4:1-13 or 1:17-23 Ephesians 1:17-23 Mark 16:15-20 Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 Ascension Sunday

Restricted
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Cycle B

24 May 2009

SUNDAY SUMMARY Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 The salvation of the world is the Crucified One. Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 The stone rejected by the religious is the cornerstone of faith. Ephesians 4:1-13 Born as children of the world, we are now God’s children. Mark 16:15-20 The good shepherd protects his sheep, even with his life. For a link to the SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, CYCLE B, please click here.

Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Ephesians 4:1-13 Mark 16:15-20 Ascension Sunday

Restricted
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Cycle B

12 May 2024

SUNDAY SUMMARY Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 For 40 more days the disciples enjoy the revelation and instruction of the Risen Lord. Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 God receives royal acclaim in heaven and on Earth: blaring trumpets and clapping hands. Ephesians 1:17-23 or 4:1-13 or 4:1-7, 11-13 Christ returns to heaven in the glory of victory, distributing gifts to his church. Mark 16:15-20 Jesus departs for the heavens while the disciples are dispatched to the ends of the Earth. For a link to SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, CYCLE B materials, click here. More resources for the month available in Seasonal notes.

Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Ephesians 1:17-23 Ephesians 4:1-13 Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 Mark 16:15-20 Ascension Sunday

Restricted