by Fr. Dumisani Vilakati
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First reading: Acts 1:1-11
Responsorial: psalm Psalm 47
Second reading: Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23
Gospel: Luke 24:46-53
After forty days since Easter Sunday the Church celebrates the ascension of the Lord. The ascension is a way of Jesus becoming fully present to his disciples, ourselves, as he continually blesses us.
The first reading highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus as we are told that he chose the apostles by the Holy Spirit. Remember too that at the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary, Luke tells us that she was filled with the Holy Spirit. So, where there is the Holy Spirit there also is Jesus. It is the same Spirit that the apostles will receive and as such be enabled to be witnesses of Christ right up to the ends of the earth. As Jesus ascends, a cloud takes him from their sight. The symbolism of the cloud recalls the exodus experience. In that dramatic moment of the exodus, God appeared to the people in a pillar of cloud, at least by day. We are told there that the cloud provided some protection from the Egyptian army which was in pursuit of God’s people. Even as Jesus seems to take leave of the apostles, nevertheless God’s abiding presence among them is assured in the symbolism of the cloud herein recalled. As they are looking up two men appear in their midst who continue to give them some instructions on Jesus. There will be a second coming of Jesus. We continue to wait for this as Christians under the firm guidance and protection of the Holy Spirit. Continue reading “Reflection for Ascension day -Year C” →
