Ascension of the Lord on Sunday

The purpose of the ascension was for Jesus to take control of the universe and his body from a trans-local position. However, the ultimate goal is his return to live on a renewed earth in the Temple that is his body, the center of a new Eden

Notes

Transcript

Title

The Ascension is Temporary

Outline

One day my Dad left home

He left to go to Virginia and take up his higher position at GE there

He left to prepare for our coming - Mom would drive us down later

His leaving would have good effects on my life as it set me up for middle and high school and the church context that would begin my ministry

Jesus’ leaving had something of the same tone - it was purposeful

First, he left to take his rightful position

“seating him at his right hand in the heavens, 21 far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way”

Now this is anthropomorphic but expresses Jesus’ position as what we might call the ruling face of God

He could not do this while within creation with its limitations of space and place, but he is beyond time and space and place and therefore can rule in a way unbounded by a specific capital or position on earth

And that also allowed him to be head to the Church that is translocal

Second, he left to empower the Church for evangelism

The Holy Spirit will come and fill all in the Church and make all witnesses, restoring the kingdom to Israel as the Church expands its sphere of influence

This witness is through proclamation, formally or informally

“16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Notice that miracles are connected to evangelism, extra-Church, not inner-Church (therefore “other languages”)

This witness is through lifestyle, living the life of the kingdom

This witness is through fulfilling the creation mandate, as Pope Francis, among others, has noted clearly in his environmental concern

Third, he went in order to prepare for a return

“This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

It is true that when we die our souls will be in the sphere beyond creation, in (anthropomorphically speaking) the presence of God and sometimes that is presented in a type of Platonism as the ultimate goal of humanity

But the ultimate goal of humanity is a new or renewed earth (and all that goes with it)

The ultimate goal of humanity is the new Jerusalem, which is us, that returns from “heaven” to earth, therefore the resurrection of the body

The ultimate goal of humanity is God dwelling in his Temple, which is the New Jerusalem, the Church, in the midst of a restored creation - the world as the new Eden

The Ascension, then, gives us hope and joy

There is an embodied human being beyond this space-time creation in a position to control it

Therefore, while we will be with him in disembodied form when we die, in the end we will return with our Lord to run the restored creation with him and for him from a position of right worship

So our job is to get on with it, bearing witness by how we live, including on how we work for the restoration of this creation, and calling others to join us in the kingdom in the right worship, right praise of God

Yet for that we need the Holy Spirit who brings the presence of the head to the body and empowers us; but that means we must wait a week in prayer

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings Ascension of the Lord, Year B

FIRST READING

Acts 1:1–11

CHAPTER 1*

1 In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught 2 until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; 5 for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.”

6 When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. 8 But 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.” 9 When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. 10 While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

RESPONSE

Psalm 47:6

6 God has gone up with a shout;

the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.

PSALM

Psalm 47:2–3, 6–9

2 All you peoples, clap your hands;

shout to God with joyful cries.

3 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,

the great king over all the earth,

6 God has gone up with a shout;

the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.

7 Sing praise to God, sing praise;

sing praise to our king, sing praise.

8 For God is king over all the earth;

sing hymns of praise.

9 God rules over the nations;

God sits upon his holy throne.

Catholic Daily Readings Ascension of the Lord, Year B

SECOND READING

Option A

Ephesians 1:17–23

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. 18 May the eyes of [your] hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, 20 which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, 21 far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Option B

Ephesians 4:1–13

1 I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, 3 striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: 4 one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

7 But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore, it says:

“He ascended on high and took prisoners captive;

he gave gifts to men.”

9 What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended into the lower [regions] of the earth? 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

11 And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ,

Catholic Daily Readings Ascension of the Lord, Year B

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 28:19a, 20b

19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

GOSPEL

Mark 16:15–20

15 He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. 18 They will pick up serpents [with their hands], and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. 20 But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.]

[And they reported all the instructions briefly to Peter’s companions. Afterwards Jesus himself, through them, sent forth from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Amen.]

Catholic Daily Readings Ascension of the Lord, Year B

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 28:19a, 20b

19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

GOSPEL

Mark 16:15–20

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings Ascension of the Lord, Year B

EASTER

ASCENSION OF THE LORD

YEAR B | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Acts 1:1–11

Response Psalm 47:6

Psalm Psalm 47:2–3, 6–9

Second Reading Ephesians 1:17–23 or Ephesians 4:1–13 or Ephesians 4:1–7, 11–13

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 28:19a, 20b

Gospel Mark 16:15–20

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