The feast of the Ascension commemorates the end of Christ\u2019s earthy mission and his return to the Father. Jesus promised he would act as our intercessor and support, so this feast is loaded with hope and trust. Christ is no longer physically present, but he is with us in a different form of presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Acts 1:1-11<\/strong> Luke tells us at the beginning of his Acts of the Apostles that Jesus\u2019 last words consisted of a promise that they would receive the Holy Spirit who would enable them to go on mission and spread the good news about the reign of God. And this commemoration makes it clear that connection to Christ leads outward to mission that is reinforced and authenticated by way of witness and service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Ascension is not about Christ leaving the earth and flying through space to an unfathomable \u2018somewhere\u2019 that we might call heaven. Luke\u2019s imagery of Christ\u2019s \u2018going up\u2019 is based on an ancient cosmology that understood heaven to be an actual place above the earth, and the underworld, or Hades, to be somewhere under the earth. This, of course, was before the human race arrived at an awareness of the immense vastness of space and the universe. In fact, world famous American cosmologist, Carl Sagan, made the observation that if Christ ascended physically at the speed of light he would still not have moved outside our galaxy. An obvious joke, but showing that he had no concept of the spiritual reality that this feast celebrates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a short while the disciples will be immersed in the Holy Spirit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus alludes to the fact that the disciples will shortly be immersed in the Holy Spirit. Our English translations routinely translate the Greek verb baptizein as \u2018baptize\u2019 when, in fact the verb means to dip, immerse or wash. Jesus is saying that John immersed people and the disciples in water, but in a short while they will be immersed in the Holy Spirit. The point he is making is that their whole life, their thoughts, their actions, their plans and the centre of their spirituality would be immersed in the Holy Spirit, that is, directed and powered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus will no longer be with them physically but will be with them in Spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, presence is a major concept in the reality of Christ\u2019s ascension. He will be with us in so many ways and those who are mindful and aware will sense his presence particularly in the Eucharist, in Scripture, in the Sacraments generally, in our fellow church travellers and in the poor and vulnerable. In a particular way Jesus is preparing his followers for Pentecost when they will become aware of the movement of the Spirit that leads them to a full realisation of what the life, death and resurrection of their Master means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Luke portrays the messengers from heaven quizzing the stunned disciples as they stand gazing up into the sky. This is a \u2018get on with it\u2019 moment. The reign of God and the message of Christ will not be advanced by a bunch of men and women gazing up at the clouds. These words tell us that the Ascension leads to mission, which involves spreading the good word of Christ\u2019s message, bearing witness by lives of spiritual authenticity and rendering service to all people they meet. In the same way, any encounter with Christ leads to mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Theologically Jesus had to enter into his divine realm, and the ascension was the event that symbolized this entry. In Luke\u2019s theology, the Ascension marked the end of Christ\u2019s life on earth and the beginning of the age of the Spirit who would now come to inspire and guide the fledgling Christian community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 47 <\/strong>This psalm is a song in praise of God the creator and designer of the universe. As a liturgical song it anticipates the coming of the reign of God. This idea of the \u2018kingdom of God\u2019 goes back to the days of ancient Israel when there was a dream that one day all nations would come to appreciate God as creator and loving sovereign. In those glorious days only good would prevail in human society and evil would be no more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jews of the distant past believed that the messiah would come as a righteous royal warrior to bring in the reign of God and establish a world of goodness and peace. This psalm would certainly have been sung by the first Christians who fervently hoped to be delivered from the oppression of hostile regimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ephesians 1:17-23<\/strong> A key feature of the letter to the Christian church in the Greek city of<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ephesus (in the west of present-day T\u00fcrkiye) was that the community was always referred to as a living organism and not as an institution. It was seen as the actual body of Christ, a family that is the human manifestation of Christ. This idea is in keeping with Paul\u2019s theology in general, namely, that when outsiders see the attitudes and behaviour of Christians they will see the attitudes and spirituality of their Master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Harmony in a Christian community shows the influence of the presence of Christ<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The writer makes it clear that knowledge of God and Christ is not gained by intellectual study or instruction but is experiential. The community spirit of unity and the appreciation and love that flourishes in all its members is a tangible reflection of the love of Christ. This would be all the more obvious considering that many members of the community of Christ would have been previously divided by so many social, racial and religious barriers. Harmony in a Christian community would alone show the influence of the presence of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the writer, all this goodness is guaranteed by God\u2019s raising of Jesus from the dead and seating him in a position of power and glory. Again, the writer is using the language of earthly thrones and royal appointments to express the unfathomable glory of the risen Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew 28:16-20<\/strong> Matthew closes his Gospel with the image of Jesus as ruler of thecosmos. This position gives him the right to send his followers out to spread the good news of the reign of God. Throughout his gospel Matthew has tried to show his mostly Jewish community that Jesus was the personification of wisdom and was the fulfilment of the spiritual heritage of Moses. He pointed out that far from wandering from the tradition of Moses, Jesus was the sublime fulfilment of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew showed how non-Jews were capable of great faith and dedication<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew was also at pains to encourage his community to welcome non-Jews into their midst. All believers were welcome to commit themselves to the universal teaching of Jesus. At different points in his gospel he showed how non-Jews were capable of great faith and dedication to the person and message of Christ, e.g., the wise men from the east, the centurion whose servant was ill, the Canaanite woman whose daughter was \u2018tormented by a demon\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In these final verses Matthew notes that some of the disciples hesitated. The verb \u2018doubt\u2019 is used to translate the Greek verb that implies hesitation rather than outright doubt. With all that had happened in the previous days it\u2019s no wonder some of them were reeling as they tried to fathom it all out. This iswhere faith gives way to trust, the kind of trust that does not need to be in control. There are many times in our life when the control freak in most of us needs to step back and rely on the work of the Spirit. I do believe. Lord help my unbelief, help me be at ease in a spirit of trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Trust is the glue of life. It\u2019s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It\u2019s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stephen Covey. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I used to think orthopaedic shoes were overrated\u2026.but I stand corrected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I tried to organise a hide-and-seek tournament\u2026.but good players are hard to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What do you call a deer with no eyes? No eye deer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What do you call a nose without a body? Nobody nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n by Laurie Woods<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The feast of the Ascension commemorates the end of Christ\u2019s earthy mission and his return to the Father. Jesus promised he would act as our intercessor and support, so this feast is loaded with hope and trust. Christ is no longer physically present, but he is with us in a different form of presence. Acts […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28922,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsletter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/pexels-photo-36355919-36355919-scaled.jpg",2560,1775,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/pexels-photo-36355919-36355919-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/pexels-photo-36355919-36355919-300x208.jpg",300,208,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/pexels-photo-36355919-36355919-768x533.jpg",768,533,true],"large":["https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/pexels-photo-36355919-36355919-1024x710.jpg",1024,710,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/pexels-photo-36355919-36355919-1536x1065.jpg",1536,1065,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/pexels-photo-36355919-36355919-2048x1420.jpg",2048,1420,true],"menu-24x24":["https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/pexels-photo-36355919-36355919-24x17.jpg",24,17,true],"menu-36x36":["https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/pexels-photo-36355919-36355919-36x25.jpg",36,25,true],"menu-48x48":["https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/pexels-photo-36355919-36355919-48x33.jpg",48,33,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Lectio Divina","author_link":"https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/?author=1"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The feast of the Ascension commemorates the end of Christ\u2019s earthy mission and his return to the Father. Jesus promised he would act as our intercessor and support, so this feast is loaded with hope and trust. Christ is no longer physically present, but he is with us in a different form of presence. Acts…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28920","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28920"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28920\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28921,"href":"https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28920\/revisions\/28921"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28922"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lectiodivina.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}