The Second Glorious Mystery
The Ascension
May/June 2009
Return to Table of Contents
Print Article
Return to the beginning
“After saying this, he was taken up to heaven as they watched him, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They still had their eyes fixed on the sky as he went away, when two men dressed in white suddenly stood beside them and said, ‘Galileans, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come back the same way that you saw him go to heaven.’” Acts 1:9-11
Reflection
Forty days have passed since Jesus rose from the dead. It is time to return to the Father. He has appeared on numerous occasions to his disciples and now he calls these women and men to a hill outside the city. He promises to send them the Holy Spirit. He blesses them and disappears into the light, covered by a cloud. His disciples are reminded of the prophet Elijah who was lifted into the sky on a chariot of fire. They stand there, sad at Jesus’ departure. Then two messengers appear, urging them not to stand around idly looking at the sky. So they return to the city, to reality, to the work of living Jesus’ mission.
The Ascension teaches us that our final home is not in this life. We are but pilgrims here on this Earth. Our home is in the light. One day, we too will ascend to the peace and light of eternity. In the meantime, we do not stand idly by, awaiting a magical return of Jesus. We are called to see the Risen Lord in others and to serve him in those needing our friendship.
Can I recognize God’s grace working in my life? Does my prayer help me to ascend the difficulties I encounter in my life? How am I involved in my local church community?
Mission Call
As missionaries we wish to live a religion that is not one of looking up at the sky, but rather of being practical and getting involved in building local community. We believe that Jesus will return one day. In the meantime we look for him here, today, in the people and situations we encounter. In particular, we find him in the poor, the sick, the exploited, and the rejected. We are called to alleviate their suffering and also to work at building social structures that can help overcome such poverty and pain.
As we pray this decade of the rosary, let us ask God for the grace to become involved in our local community. We pray for those who suffer and we ask God to give them strength to ascend their difficulties. We remember groups throughout the world working to create more just social structures.
Amazon Word
When one has an opportunity to ascend into the clouds and to fly over the Amazon rainforest, the view is spectacular: endless tropical green forest, with myriad rivers, lakes, and streams forming beautiful and varying patterns. Some rivers are clear black; others, like the Amazon itself, are brownish with silt. When one travels along one of the highways that have been cut through the jungle, one sees the urban build-up: houses, ranches, gas stations, small shops. Behind this development, one sees the edge of the forest; some very tall trees have been spared, looking like lonely giants. People have died to defend the rainforest: Chico Mendes in 1988, Sr. Dorothy Stang in 2005, among others. When will we stop looking at the sky? When will we get down to reality and work at protecting our Earth? The time is now.
Return to Table of Contents
Print Article