The Ascension of the Lord
Reading I: Acts 1:1-11 II: Eph 1:17-23

⁴⁶ Jesus said to his disciples: "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day
⁴⁷ and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things.
⁴⁹ And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city util you are clothed with power from on high."
⁵⁰ Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them.
⁵¹ As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.
⁵² They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
⁵³ and they were continually in the temple praising God

• Context: Luke concludes his Gospel with this passage on ascension, and starts the Acts of the Apostles with the same event, which is in the first reading.
• (v. 46) "it is written": Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection fulfilled what had been predicted and promised by the prophets, particularly Hosea (6:2), Isaiah (53), and Jesus himself (Lk 9:22). This fulfillment is crucial: had God not kept his promise to Israel, how could the gentiles, whom Luke wrote for, trust in this God?
• (v. 47) "would be preached in his name" Luke points to the second volume, Acts. The disciples will continue the mission of Jesus.
• (v. 47) "beginning from Jerusalem": Jesus of the synoptic gospels moved to Jerusalem. His disciples, in Acts, moved from Jerusalem .to all the nations..
• (v. 48) "witnesses": martys in Greek, related to the word martyrs in English.following in the footstep of Jesus. suffering, death, and resurrection.
• (v. 49) "I am sending": apostello in Greek" The Father sent Jesus. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to empower the sent apostles.
• (v. 49) "the promise of my Father": the blessing of God, previously as land and descendants to Abraham, and now more fully as .power from on high,. the Holy Spirit.
• (v. 49) "clothed": having the ability or quality.
• (v. 50) "raised his hands": Like Moses in Exodus 17:11, giving people the victory.
• (v. 50) "blessed" Like Moses in Ex 39:43, and like the priests, such as Aaron in Leviticus 9:22.
• (v. 52) "returned to Jerusalem with great joy": They obeyed God, thus received the joy as experienced by Mary (1:14), the shepherds at Jesus. birth (2:10), people who received the word of God (8:13), the 72 who returned after the mission trip (10:17). God also experience joy when the lost has been found (chapter 15).

In Jesus' paschal mystery, God fulfills his promise to save us, who are invited to receive the Holy Spirit, collaborate with his mission, and experience joy.

1. Am I willing to be sent as witness, or martyr?
2. What .nation. am I sent to? Possibly my family and my community at home, and also the marginalized around the world, particularly in this age of globalization?
3. Do I take time to experience joy, like Mary, the shepherds, and other disciples of Jesus?

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A synthesis by the Vietnamese Christian Life (Dong Hanh) Community