A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (# 26)
Ascension of the Lord, Year C – May 20, 2004
“He Was Taken Up To Heaven”
BIBLE READINGS
Acts 1:1-11 // Heb 9:24-28; 10:19-23 or Eph 1:17-23 // Lk 24:46-63
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
I remember the beautiful afternoon I went to the convent of the Congregation, Sister Disciples of the Divine Master (PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI), located on the scenic hills of Antipolo, in the Philippines. I was a college student when I received from the Lord the grace to respond to my religious vocation. Then I felt ready to make a decisive step. My mother was with me the day I made my formal application to enter the convent. The Mother Superior accepted me as an aspirant and gave me the date of entrance to the congregation. When my mother and I were making our way back to the gate, we saw some Sisters having recreation outdoors. They looked so happy and joyful as they relaxed in the midst of a peaceful verdant garden, lined with blooming bougainvillaes ablaze in enchanting colors. It was a glimpse of heaven here on earth. The Sisters who were conversing among themselves along the pathway greeted us with warm smiles. One of them, Sr. Mary John congratulated my mother and assured her: “You are not losing a daughter, Mrs. Tapang! She will be ever close to you in prayer.” What Sr. Mary John told my mother was true. In my life of consecration to the Lord, I have been present to my father, my mother and my brothers spiritually, in a more intense and real way than mere physical presence.
Today, we celebrate the feast of the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord’s ascension into heaven is a farewell event to Christ in his earthly mission, yes, but even more. It is a celebration of his new presence. Aelred Rosser comments: “We celebrate today the risen Lord’s appearance among us in a new and wonderful way, far beyond the power of the human eye, but well within the loving grasp of the believing heart.” In this light we perceive the glorious aspect of Christ’s paschal mystery. Aelred Rosser explains: “The ascension means that Christians have always believed that Jesus, having completed his earthly mission, returned to God, from whom he was sent, and now takes up his continuing role as priest, prophet, and king. That is the meaning of the words took his seat at God’s right hand. There is no implication that Christ is no longer present in the world or is inactive. Christ has not gone to a specific place any more than God can be said to be in a particular place; rather, Christ has taken on the role of intermediary in a new and spiritual way.”
Indeed, in the Church’s contemplation of the Lord’s ascension, there is no lamentation, but rather joy, for with this event we are given a glimpse of heaven and a pledge of the marvelous destiny prepared for us by the Risen Christ enthroned in glory. According to the early Church Father, St. Leo the Great: “The ascension of Christ thus means our own elevation as well; where the glorious Head has gone before, the Body is called to follow in hope. Let us therefore exult, beloved, as is fitting, and let us rejoice in devout thanksgiving. For on this day not only have we been confirmed in our possession of paradise, but we have even entered heaven in the person of Christ.” Indeed, the feast of the Lord’s ascension, as a celebration of Christ’s new and wonderful presence, is a celebration of the mystery of hope. It is a celebration of what we are and the glorious destiny we are called to become in the Risen Lord ascended into heaven. St. Leo reflects: “At Easter the Lord’s resurrection was the source of our joy; today his ascension into heaven is our reason for rejoicing, for today we recall and duly venerate the day on which our lowly nature was elevated, in Christ, far above the heavenly host.”
The celebration of the Lord’s ascension is an invitation to perceive and cherish Christ’s new presence in the sacraments. It is through sacramental signs that we now encounter the Risen Christ who has ascended to the Father’s right hand. The liturgical scholar, Adrian Nocent, expounds on this reality: “Christ’s departure paved the way for the activity of the Spirit in the sacraments, which are the symbolic extensions of Christ’s glorified body throughout the world. Unless Christ were both glorified and departed from us, the sacraments would be impossible. Any contact with a Christ still present in a bodily form on earth would be limited by the conditions of space and time. Now, however, Christ is present to us in every place and at all times through the signs that draw their efficacy from the Spirit … Each sacrament is a sign of his presence; this is especially true of the Eucharist, which is specifically the sign of the presence of his now glorified body.”
The astounding and continuing presence of the glorified Christ challenges his disciples, then and now, to bear authentic witness to the paschal mystery he had accomplished. In his last instruction to the apostles, Jesus said: “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this” (Lk 24:46-48). The Risen Lord thus spelled out the content of our witnessing, that is, the saving event of the life and works of Jesus, the Christ and Son of God. Difficulties and trials assail the lives of those who witness to Christ to the ends of the earth, but they have the inner strength to be true followers for they are empowered by the Holy Spirit, in accordance with Jesus’ words: “And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you, but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Lk 24:49). Indeed, Christian witnessing demands great openness and receptivity to the presence and action of the Holy Spirit – the ultimate and enduring manifestation of the Risen Lord’s presence in the world.
Harold Buetow underlines the practical implication of the feast of the Lord’s ascension for us: “Today’s liturgy calls us also to be bold witnesses to the passion, death, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus – witnesses, in other words, of Gospel joy to the world. We can’t just keep looking up to heaven: we have a mission from Jesus. After the ascension, there’s a bit of earth with God in heaven and a bit of heaven with us on earth. But we have work to do. We must stand on our own spiritual feet and do it. Today’s emphasis on the role of the Holy Spirit assures us that in that work we don’t walk alone.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
A. Are we receptive to the new and enduring presence offered to us by the Risen Lord ascended into heaven? Do we perceive and welcome his presence in the sacramental signs, especially in the sacrament of the Eucharist?
B. As disciples of Christ, are we truly witnesses of his death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins? How do we share the mystery and hope of glory with others?
C. How do we welcome the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives? Do we allow the Holy Spirit to clothe us with power from on high?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: Let us pray that the Risen Christ will lead us to eternal life.
(A moment of silent prayer.)
God our Father,
make us joyful in the ascension of your Son Jesus Christ.
May we follow him into the new creation,
for his ascension is our glory and our hope.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.” (Lk
24:51).
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
A. ACTION PLAN: Today, the feast of the Lord’s ascension into heaven, pray 10 times the following invocation: “Risen Christ, ascended into heaven, you are our hope and glory!”
B. ACTION PLAN: By your prayer, word and deed, be a channel of Christian hope for someone who truly needs its strength and comfort.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US