Luke 24, 46-53:
Sunday, 29th May 2022 (7th Easter)
For some time the risen Lord appeared several times to the disciples. On this solemnity of the Ascension, Jesus appears to them, promises not to leave them alone, gives them a mission, and they saw him rise to heaven.
It is the moment of his glorification, of being at the Father’s side with full power over heaven and earth. Now he can send us his Spirit. He will return at the end of time.
His Ascension is a mystery that we can only accept in faith. God sits him at his right hand in recognition of all his work. His time among us is over, but he does not leave us. It will be a new form of presence: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age”. Then we will be able to fulfil his wishes: “make disciples, baptising them, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…”.
Today is a day of joy because the Ascension of Jesus is the victory of those of us who believe in him, for we share in his divinity. It is a day of hope because where he is, we will be too, according to his promise: “I go to prepare a place for you”. And it is a day of commitment, for it is not easy to be his witnesses in a world where believers are so hindered. Let us pray today with Saint Paul that “he may give us his Spirit so that we may know him, and that he may enlighten our hearts to understand the hope to which he calls us”.
Juan Ramón Gómez Pascual, cmf
Ask to be filled with the Spirit
