Reflection for the Ascension of the Lord

Entrance Antiphon for the Ascension of the Lord

Men of Galilee, why gaze in wonder at the heavens?
This Jesus whom you saw ascending into heaven will return
as you saw him go, alleluia. (Acts 1: 11)

Think for a minute about the words ‘whom you saw ascending’. The apostle John had witnessed the Passion; perhaps other apostles may have seen it from afar. While the men of Galilee did not see the moment of Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to them many times in his Risen body later. The Acts of the Apostles record Jesus sending them on great mission to preach to the ends of the world.  This explains why it was necessary that Jesus’ Ascension be seen by the men of Galilee.  How else could they preach that Jesus had ascended to the right hand of the Father in glory?  Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection and ascension go together; they cannot be separated.  The entirety of this mystery is celebrated and made present as we recognize Jesus ‘in the breaking of the bread’ – The Eucharist.

In our baptism we die and rise in Christ.  In his Ascension, he has taken our human nature with him, so we may be with him for eternity.  He said he would remain with them always and he is with us still – in the Eucharist.  Vatican II said, ‘The Most Blessed Eucharist contains the entire spiritual boon of the Church, that is, Christ himself, our Pasch and Living Bread.’  (Presbyterorum Ordinis, 5).  Anytime you see the Eucharist enthroned in the monstrance, think: ‘It is Christ, my Pasch and Living Bread’.

Sometimes think:  ‘In the Eucharist I receive the unmerited and overwhelming gift of Jesus Christ, who offered himself to the Father for my salvation and who offers me his very flesh and blood in order to make me one with himself and give me eternal life.

When the priest at Mass says “Behold:  the Lamb of God.  Behold:  Him who takes away the sins of the world,”  think in your heart, “Behold:  the Lord Jesus,” for he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

In thinking of the mystical vision of John in Revelation, we behold in the fractured Host and the chalice of his Precious Blood the One who has the appearance of a lamb who is slaughtered yet living, who is now called the Lion of Judah. It is a priest-king, this Jesus, who is at once both lamb and lion.  Saint Augustine said, “He endured death as a lamb and he devoured it as a lion.”  We worship and trust in our great high priest and conquering hero:  he who made himself meek so that we may share in the spoils of his Passion, devouring the One who victoriously swallowed up death.

Be as ‘men of Galilee’ by developing a strong faith in the Eucharist.  Parents and Grandparents can teach their children and grandchildren.  Develop and increase your own faith by visiting the Eucharist and attending Mass as much as possible.  Witness this faith to your friends and co-workers by your way of life.  And finally, grow in this faith by attending Eucharistic Revival activities, such as our Vespers and Benediction at 5:30pm on the 2nd Sunday of every month.