THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2025

MASS READINGS:

Reading I

Acts 1:1-11

In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

Ascension Chapel. It is said to contain the right footprint of Christ, while the section bearing the left footprint was taken to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Middle Ages. The faithful believe that the impression was made as Jesus ascended into Heaven and is venerated as the last point on earth touched by the incarnate Christ. (Wikipedia)

REFLECTION

wait for the promise of the Father

The Apostles Creed states, "He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father." In Mark 16:19 – it is written that Jesus "was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God." His final apparition ends with the irreversible entry of His humanity into divine glory symbolized by the cloud and heaven. (CCC 659)

He loved the apostles, teaching them up to the last minute, reassuring them that the Holy Spirit would come and help them.

Jesus instructed the apostles for 40 days after His resurrection, promising He would not leave them alone. And so they waited and prayed for the Holy Spirit.

God Bless You