Ascension Sunday 2020

The WORD today reminds me that Jesus watches over us from above. 

As we celebrate this Sunday the Ascension of the Lord into heaven, we are reminded that He watches over us and blesses us from above. Both the first reading and the gospel tell us of Jesus’ ascension – him being taken back to heaven. It was probably a very awesome sight to see, and the fact that Jesus will come again in that glory is exciting to see – for those who are ready to see him.

Jesus wants us to continue his work while we wait for his return. 

In the gospel, Jesus told his disciples before he was taken up into heaven, that repentance and forgiveness of sin should be preached in the world in His name. He is basically telling them to go into the world and proclaim the gospel. If that is his last message, it must really be important. However, as he asks us to do this, we are not by ourselves. Jesus is watching from above – guiding and protecting us as we continue his work. The second reading also affirms us of God's power, dominion and protection as he watches over us from above.

We need not be missionaries to do this. We need not have great signs or miracles for us to do this. As St Vincent Pallotti says, God wills that you sanctify the world in your everyday life. Whatever we do and wherever we are, we can do God’s work. When we do simple things extraordinarily well for the love of God, we are pleasing him. When we treat others right, we are proclaiming the gospel. St Francis of Assisi said that we should preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words. The way we live is just as important, if not more important, as preaching the gospel by mouth.

Today, with the pandemic going on, we should work harder to make God more alive. We should make God more real. We should spread his goodness and his love. As we continue to serve and proclaim him, we should also continue to hold on to his promises. We should continue to hold on to his power. Just as he was taken up to heaven, he is still watching over us and we just need to have faith he is still in control.

Am I proclaiming God in this world? Am I doing my part in making God’s love and forgiveness more real and more alive in this world? How? What else can I do today to proclaim God and heed his call?

May we heed Jesus’ call to proclaim him, and take comfort that he watches, blesses and guides us from above.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another chance to love and serve you. thank you for the blessings. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for another Sunday. Lord, thank you for always watching over me, for protecting me and for guiding me. Sorry for the times I forget it. Sorry for the times I do not proclaim you. Sorry for being lazy and selfish, just doing what I want in life. Sorry for being stubborn. Help me be able to do what you ask of me, Lord. May I proclaim you to the people I meet, not just in words but more importantly, by the way I live my life. Help me to live right and pleasing to you. May my life glorify you and bring you to others, especially this pandemic. Help us get through this.  Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

May 24, 2020

7th Sunday of Easter or Ascension of the Lord (Canada and parts of USA); Blessed Marie-Leonie Paradis

Ascension of the Lord

Sunday Mass

Ascension of the Lord

FIRST READING

Acts 1:1–11

In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 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. 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; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 

When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. 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.” When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. 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.”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 47:2–3, 6–7, 8–9 (6)

R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. or R. Alleluia. 

All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness. For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth. 

R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. or R. Alleluia. 

God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the LORD, amid trumpet blasts. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise. 

R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. or R. Alleluia. 

For king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise. God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne. 

R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. or R. Alleluia.

SECOND READING

Ephesians 1:17–23

Brothers and sisters:

May the God of our Lord Jeus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. 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, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, 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. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every wat. 

or: 

Longer Form Ephesians 4:1–13

Brothers and sisters,

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

But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it says:He ascended on high and took prisoners captive; he gave gifts to men. What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth? The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. 

And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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. 

or: 

Shorter Form Ephesians 4:1–7, 11–13

Brothers and sisters,

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

But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 

And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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.

ALLELUIA

Luke 3:4, 6

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

Matthew 28:16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Seventh Sunday of Easter

FIRST READING

Acts 1:12–14

After Jesus had been taken up to heaven the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 

When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 27:1, 4, 7–8 (13)

R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. or R. Alleluia. 

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? 

R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. or R. Alleluia. 

One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate his temple. 

R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. or R. Alleluia. 

Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call; have pity on me, and answer me. Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks. 

R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. or R. Alleluia.

SECOND READING

1 Peter 4:13–16

Beloved:

Rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let no one among you be made to suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as an intriguer. But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the name.

ALLELUIA

see John 14:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord. I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

John 17:1–11a

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began.

“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.