The Ascension

My Dear People,

Jesus instructs his disciples about the fulfillment of Scriptures and then announces their future missions. First, he reiterates how it was necessary that everything written about him in the Old Testament come to fulfillment. He opened their minds in understanding of the scriptures. He also told them that they were witness to these events, his suffering, death and resurrection. He explains that repentance for forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name. This is the mission now announced to the apostles and the other disciples. Indeed, in Acts,      repentance and forgiveness of sins through the name of Jesus will       become the core message of the apostles’ preaching (this is called  kerygma). The beginning of the apostles’ mission in Jerusalem will thus recall the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry in Nazareth, when he read from Isaiah and announced a jubilee, explaining that he was sent to proclaim liberty. Now Jubilee is being extended in time and space: from Jerusalem the liberty that is forgiveness will be preached to all nations. The apostles and   disciples will be the witnesses of all these things about Jesus: his words and deeds, his life, death and resurrection.

One last instruction is that they should stay in the city until they are clothed with power from on high to enable them to carry out their mission. This power, which Jesus also describes as the promise of his Father whom he is sending upon them, is the Holy Spirit whom the disciples will receive at Pentecost. As Jesus    carried out his ministry “in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14), so too will his followers be filled with the power of the Spirit to carry out their mission of spreading the gospel.

You are witnesses—the apostles carried out their mission, “with great power” bearing “witness to the resurrection of the Lord   Jesus” (Acts4:33). However, all Christians are entrusted with the apostolate in one way or another (Catechism 900). In other words, we are called to be witnesses to Jesus in our lives and thus advance his mission. “Clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49) —the power of the Holy Spirit received through baptism and confirmation—we can bear witness to Jesus by our deeds and by our words. This is what the early Christians did, and thus the faith spread quickly, despite persecution, to every part of society. This is what       Christians today can and ought to do, joyfully sharing their faith with family members, friends and coworkers.

Luke’s Gospel concludes with an account of Jesus’ ascension into heaven, in which he elegantly       presents Jesus the Messiah as a priest, prophet and King. Moreover, as Lord (2:11), Jesus is to be        worshipped. Though the timing of the event is not made explicit here, Luke indicates in Acts—where he also recounts Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:9-11)—that it took place “forty days” after the resurrection (Acts1:3).

After giving his final instructions, Jesus led his disciples [out] of Jerusalem. The Greek word exago (lead or bring out), which    occurs only here in Luke’s Gospel is the verb typically used in the Septuagint.  Jesus now completes his exodus from Jerusalem to heaven. Like the prophet Elijah, Jesus is taken up to heaven, and his followers will then receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4; 2Kings 2:9,11,15).

 Yours in Christ.

 Fr. Vincent Clemente

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