Gospel: June 1, 2025
June 1, 2025 (Sunday)
The Ascension of the Lord
Psalter: Proper / (White)
Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
1st Reading: Acts 1:1-11
In the first part of my work, Theophilus, I wrote of all that Jesus did and taught, from the beginning until the day when he ascended to heaven. But first he had instructed, through the Holy Spirit, the apostles he had chosen. After his passion, he presented himself to them, giving many signs, that he was alive; over a period of 40 days he appeared to them and taught them concerning the kingdom of God. Once, when he had been eating with them, he told them, “Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the fulfillment of the Father’s promise about which I have spoken to you: John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit within a few days.” When they had come together, they asked him, “Is it now that you will restore the kingdom of Israel?” And he answered, “It is not for you to know the time and the steps that the Father has fixed 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, even to the ends of the earth.” After Jesus said this, he was taken up before their eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight. While they were still looking up to heaven, where he went, suddenly, two men dressed in white stood beside them and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up at the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will return in the same way as you have seen him go there.”
Gospel: Luke 24:46-53
So it was written: The Messiah had to suffer, and on the third day rise from the dead. Then repentance and forgiveness in his name would be proclaimed to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. And that is why I will send you what my Father promised. So remain in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Jesus led them almost as far as Bethany; then he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And as he blessed them, he withdrew, and was taken to heaven. They worshiped him, and then returned to Jerusalem full of joy; and they were continually in the temple, praising God.
Lectio Divina:
“Christ doesn’t leave us behind.”
Read: Luke in Acts and the Gospel describes the Ascension of the Lord as part of God’s plan, so that the Holy Spirit might come to strengthen the disciples in their witness to Christ. The Letter to the Hebrews talks of the sacrifice which Christ has made in his own blood, which is our salvation. We are to remain steadfast in our hope of heaven.
Reflect: “O strong Ram, which hast batter’d heaven for me! / Mild lamb, which with Thy Blood hast mark’d the path! / Bright Torch, which shinest, that I the way may see!” Thus the mystical poet John Donne wrote of Christ’s Ascension. Christ, victorious over sin and death, returns to the glory that was his for all eternity, sitting at God’s right hand. But his ascension is not some kind of rupture with humanity. Rather, it’s a continuation that paves the way for our journey to heaven. And so, Christ doesn’t leave us behind. Instead, he takes human nature into heaven, and there he awaits us. He does not leave us behind, but he dwells within us, closer to us than ever before.
Pray: Meditate upon Christ in glory and Christ as a “Bright Torch” to guide us to heaven.
Act: Join a prayer group or spend more time in prayer in preparation for Pentecost.
