The
First Reading
begins the Acts of the Apostles, believed to be authored by the Gospel evangelist, Luke, and beginning after the Resurrection. Reasserting the evidence that Jesus was Risen, He recalls Jesus' continued teaching for forty more days.
And then He recounts the Ascension,
when Jesus returned to Heaven, but promised another Advocate
was coming to guide any who wished to be His followers.
The
Psalm
is fitting for today, celebrating the rising of God to His throne and the rejoicing and singing of His followers.
Great must have been the celebration of the angels
to have God the Son with them once more!
In the
Second Reading
, St. Paul prays that we will truly comprehend within ourselves the reality of Jesus, and Who He is.
He provides a brief creed statement -noting the facts that are
real, true, and important.
The life of Christ is not a myth, encouraging story, or nice biography - it is a reality with huge consequences for how we live our lives here and now so that we can enjoy to the fullest the life that will never end.
In the
Gospel
, Jesus appears to the Disciples one last time before ascending Heaven recorded time, ascending to heaven.
His final directive to them - and to us - is to go forth and make disciples of all nations. Beginning in our homes, but makes clear that He and God the Father are One. To know Jesus is to know God the Father, and to obey either one is to obey the other. The Holy Spirit will come
to lead the Apostles - they will not be left without guidance.
That same Holy Spirit guides us - if we will let Him.