Scripture Reflections for the Ascension of the Lord

Year A, Lectionary 58


We can limit the significance of the Ascension of Jesus into Christ going up into heaven and no longer seeing him. But we are meant to see how we are opened up to a relationship with the Holy Trinity. We are offered to enter into communion with God by Jesus, fully human and fully divine, entering the divine realm. Uniting Heaven and Earth in the process. Like those early disciples we are not meant to stand looking up at the sky but to go on mission through the Holy Spirit of gathering others into this relationship with God.

Hate feeling lost on Sundays at church? Searching for a better explanation of the Bible than what you hear from your pastor's sermon? Check out the following collection of audio, video, and text commentaries from various Christian experts for a better understanding of today's scripture that deal with: ArtAscensionBaptismChurchDiscipleDivineDoubtForgiveGrowthHeavenHoly SpiritHoly TrinityHopeIncarnationKingdomMissionPresencePriestResurrectionRevelationSalvationTheophilusTransitionUnityWitnessWorship

Acts 1:1-11
U.S. Catholic magazine • May 09 ʼ24

“Through the Holy Spirit we receive power not to be passive onlookers staring at the cloud but to become an active cloud of witnesses and ministry with the living Christ who is among us”


Grace Ji-Sun Kim
Catholic Productions • May 18 ʼ20

“If you read the New Testament in light of the Old Testament you'll notice that the number 40 is a very significant number and whenever you see the number 40, especially 40 days and 40 nights, it always refers to two things: it's a time of transition and it's a time of purification and preparation”


Brant Pitre in "The Ascension: Why 40 Days?"
Psalm 47:2-3, 6-9
Ephesians 1:17-23
Catholic Productions • Jun 29 ʼ22

“what Paul is trying to say here in Ephesians 1 is that when Christ ascended into heaven he wasn't simply vindicated as the Messiah, he was also exalted in his humanity, this is really crucial, above all of the angels”


Brant Pitre in "Human Nature and the Angelic Powers"
Matthew 28:16-20
Saint Katharine Drexel Parish - Boston, MA • May 30 ʼ21

“Unity is not uniformity. Amen. What we are called to as the children of our Triune God is unity, to be one as that triune godhead is one, three distinct persons, one God.”


Fr. Oscar Pratt
May 26 ʼ21

“There is no change in God but in terms of revelation there is progressive revelation. God reveals himself to us gradually because of our inability to comprehend everything at the same time that God has always been the same.”


Fr. Emmanuel Ochigbo
Overall Readings
May 14 ʼ23

“By using this literary device of 'bookends' Matthew is telling us that the Gospel he has written is the story of 'God with us.' Jesus is about to leave this world of space and time to be with us forever.”


Fr. Geoffrey Plant in "I am with you always"
GatherClip • May 22 ʼ23

“Ascension doesn't mean Jesus left us. Ascension means we've been opened up to this Trinitarian relationship.”


Alex in "What they’re not telling you about the Ascension of Jesus"
Holy Name of Jesus Church & Loyola Ministry • May 21 ʼ23

“Jesus in bodily form had to leave us so that Christ in spirit form could come”


Fr. Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ
UACatholic • May 21 ʼ23

“so how do we do this in the world that can be full of so much noise and reasons not to trust? This is what I say: we do it gradually, faithfully and abundantly. There are so many reasons not to but if we truly are interested in renewal our desire for change will happen gradually.”


Fr. John Paul Forté, OP
Catholic Women Preach • May 21 ʼ23

“There is a time to stop looking up and to start looking to our left or to our right. There is a time to focus on drawing out what is from within. There is a time to move with the Spirit towards the ministry and social justice, to work for equality”


Emily Southerton
St. Teresa of Avila - DC • May 21 ʼ23

“and don't just get insurance policy that will terminate, get the kind that lasts forever. The insurance policy that we have on the Ascension day is that Christ where he has gone we shall follow.”


Monsignor Raymond East
UACatholic • May 24 ʼ20

“In the beginning God breathed and, people of God, God is still breathing”


Fr. John Paul Forté, OP
Catholic Women Preach • May 28 ʼ17

“And today we need to ask ourselves who is the Holy Spirit in our lives? Do we leave room for the Holy Spirit? Are we listening to the Holy Spirit? Do we trust the Spirit?”


Teresa Maya, CCVI
Saint Katharine Drexel Parish - Boston, MA • May 21 ʼ20

“'Where are you now Lord?' It is the question for the Christians in the earliest days, it is the question for all of us who are but Theophilus today. And we can say with great certitude Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus risen from the tomb, Jesus who imparted the Holy Spirit with a breath is still here.”


Fr. Oscar Pratt
St. Teresa of Avila - DC • May 24 ʼ20

“If that being lifted up on that cross was part one, today is part two, being lifted up to the highest heavens to be seated at the right hand of God his Almighty Father”


Monsignor Raymond East
May 21 ʼ23

“Will we stand just staring into the sky or will we truly be like the disciples to go out and bear the Good News?”


Fr. Tony Ricard