Jesus said to the apostles, “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. Acts 1:8-9
The Ascension of Jesus has been celebrated by Christians since the earliest times as a commemoration of the Lord’s ascension and glorification as related in the Acts of the Apostles. In Christ’s ascension and heavenly glorification, we find the hope of our own glorification and the promise of a dwelling place in heaven. Jesus has gone before us to prepare a place for us. We receive the Body and Blood of the risen Christ which strengthens our hope and our faithfulness for this journey.
Before it became a separate feast, the Ascension was celebrated on Easter day itself in some countries. In other places, it was celebrated along with Pentecost. Eventually it settled into a celebration 40 days after Easter, following Acts 1: 3, and became known as Ascension Thursday.
Since Ascension Thursday always falls on a workday in the United States, the obligation to attend Mass is considerably more difficult for some Catholics. The Ascension is one of the central events of the Gospel. If we do not hear the readings of the feast of the Ascension and ponder its meaning, we miss an important aspect of our faith, our promise of eternal life.
Each conference of bishops may make changes in holy days with the approval of the Apostolic See. On November 16, 1998, the United States bishops approved a procedure whereby the bishops of each ecclesiastical province would determine whether the Solemnity of the Ascension would be transferred to the Seventh Sunday of Easter in their province. This action was approved by Pope John Paul II on July 5, 1999.
The provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and Omaha still celebrate on the Thursday that is 40 days after Easter. All other Provinces in the U.S. moved the celebration to the following Sunday.
Preparing for Mass
“He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father,” is part of the Nicene Creed from the Mass. We believe that Jesus, at the right hand of God, intercedes for us.
a) Reflect on the meaning of the Ascension of the Lord as it relates to these words, For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. Hebrews 9:24
b) Reflect on the mission which Jesus gave to the Church and to each of us: “Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always until the end of the world.” Today’s Gospel Verse.
