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June 2, 2025And behold, I’m sending the promise of my Father upon you.” Only in the gospels of Matthew (16:19) and Luke (24:51), alongside the historical account in the Acts of the Apostles (1:9), is the account of Jesus’ ascension into heaven recorded. As recorded in Acts, his departure occurred forty days after the resurrection. Thus, for many years the Church celebrated the Ascension of the Lord on Thursday of the sixth week of Easter, a holy day of obligation. Designated as a significant aspect of Christ Jesus’ mission here on earth, the Church has celebrated the Ascension from the fourth century on, often marked with a procession, and the extinguishing of the Paschal Candle. In 1999, Pope John Paul II approved a decree giving permission to dioceses to move the holy day of obligation—Ascension Thursday—during the sixth week of Easter to the following Sunday, the seventh Sunday of Easter. Not all, but many dioceses have since moved the Ascension of the Lord to the following Sunday.Madeleine L’Engle, Christian author of children's and adult books, provides this reflection on this significant occurrence in Christ Jesus’s ministry. “However, the Ascension happened, what we do know is that Jesus did not want his friends to hold on to him. They were thrilled with the Resurrection body, once they recognized it to be the Lord, and they wanted to keep him with them forever. But he told them, in no uncertain terms, that it was better for them for him to leave them. He would send them the Holy Spirit; that was the promise. He would go, and then the Comforter would come.How did they understand? When would they understand? Probably never completely, as we at our best do not understand completely. We need to move beyond the dominance of the intellect and understand with the Spirit if we are to contemplate the reality of the Ascension. But we also must take great care that the understanding of the heart does not deteriorate into sentimentality and become idolatrous. With God’s help it need not.”And the reality of the Ascension may well be the depiction of the Risen Lord in the words of Tim Chester and Jonny Woodrow following His return to the Father. “When you went to bed last night, Jesus was at work subduing his enemies. While you slept, he was continuing to rule over the world. He was still at it when you woke up this morning, and even now as you read this. That is the outrageous claim of the ascension.”A Prayer for the AscensionLord, Ascended to the right Hand of the Father, have mercy on us. Lord, Ascended forty days after Thy Resurrection, have mercy on us. Lord, Ascended in the company of angels,
have mercy on us.
Lord, Ascended in the company of our Blessed Mother, have mercy on us. Lord, Ascended in the company of the Apostles, have mercy on us. Lord, Ascended before us, where we are to follow, have mercy on us. Spirit of truth and wisdom, Have mercy on us. Spirit of holiness and justice, Have mercy on us. Spirit of peace and patience, Have mercy on us. Spirit of humility and meekness, Have mercy on us. From all impurity of soul and body, Deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From all gluttony and sensuality, Deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From all attachments to the things of the earth, Deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From all hypocrisy and pretense, Deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From deceiving our neighbors, Deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From debauchery and malice, Deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From the love of comfort and luxury, Deliver us, O Holy Spirit. May we follow You, Christ Jesus, to the place of Your Ascension, beyond the clouds. And may we keep this vision before us always. AmenGod Bless, Fr. Tim