The Ascension of the Lord

 Reflection on Today’s Readings, the Solemnity of Ascension of the Lord, Thursday 26th May, 2022

Texts: Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47:2-3.6-7.8-9;  Ephesians 1:17-23/Heb. 9:24-28; 10:19-23; Luke24:46-53

Today is the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Jesus Christ. This is celebrated forty days after resurrection and ten days to the solemnity of Pentecost. The nine day novena to the Holy Spirit begins tomorrow. This also means that in ten days to come the season of Easter will come to an end and the second part of Ordinary Time will begin. Ascension is an enthronement of Jesus Christ as man in heaven.

Ascension is not just a celebration of certain aspect of the paschal mystery, it means a lot for as Christians. It means that we now have an advocate in heaven. In the letter to the Hebrews, it is said, “For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the Holy Place yearly with blood not his own” The Ascension completes the process of atonement initiated by His passion. The passion gave way for Ascension by which He appears in the presence of God in heaven, the true sanctuary. Having appeared before God, He is making intercession for us. He is now our Advocate before the Father. He pleads on our behalf for forgiveness of our sins. By Ascension, through which Jesus Christ sits on the throne,  we obtain forgiveness of sins. St. John says, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1John 2:1-2).  

The first fruit of the Ascension of the Lord is the descent of the Holy Spirit. The intercession of the Lord has won us the gift of Holy Spirit. He says, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7).  

In today’s first reading, it is said, “So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.’” After Ascension it is for us to be witnesses for him, not to concern ourselves with unnecessary issues. Jesus Christ, in today’s gospel reading tells us what we bear witness to. He says, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” We are witnesses to His public ministry, His passion and resurrection.  In the second reading, Paul tells us how we are witnesses of the life of Jesus Christ, His passion, death, resurrection and ascension. It is by enlightenment  on them. He mentions enlightenment on the display of God’s great might in the passion, death, resurrection and ascension of the Lord. The hope to which we are called, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and the immeasurable greatness of His power in us who believe are the display of God’s great might in Jesus Christ. It is by our enlightenment on them that we become witnesses of them for Jesus Christ.  

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who believe that your Only Begotten Son, our Redeemer, ascended this day to the heavens, may in spirit dwell already in heavenly realms. Amen (Collect)

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke