Reflections
“God mounts His throne amid shouts of joy.”
This Sunday we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord, who was
taken up to heaven to be seated
at the right hand of the Father,
far above every principality,
with authority over every nation,
as our second reading tells us.
(Ephesians 1: 20-21)
With such an awesome God on His throne,
what hope do we have as mere human beings
that He will have anything more to do with us?
How far removed can we be if this Jesus is taken
up to heaven and has all things put beneath His
feet (including us)?
Fortunately, for us men, Jesus leaves us with a way
to share in His divinity, through the Holy Spirit which
He gives to us. His power and presence remain within
us, so long as we repent from our sins and believe
in Him.
Power is often associated with arrogance and brutal
treatment, but our God uses His power to work
miracles, and bring about healing. He is risen, and
is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
Knowing this, we shout with joy, and we praise Him.
After Jesus' Ascension, the disciples began their
active ministry, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
That same power is given to us so long as we believe;
we too are called to ministry. And for that we are
inspired to praise the Lord, as the psalmist says,
“Clap your hands, shout to God with joyful cries;
sing praise to God!”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. The Psalm speaks of God mounting His throne and reigning over the nations. If God is raised up so far above us, how do you go about having a relationship with our Lord so that He is present to you?
1. The Psalm speaks of God mounting His throne and reigning over the nations. If God is raised up so far above us, how do you go about having a relationship with our Lord so that He is present to you?
2. The Psalm's verses tell of God as the great king over all the earth, and we are urged to sing praise to our king. Describe how our Lord's Ascension inspires you to celebrate with shouts of joy.
Reading this reflection really touched me because I sometimes struggle with the idea of how immense and powerful God is, especially in the mystery of the Ascension. Jesus being seated at the right hand of the Father can almost make Him feel distant at first. But what gives me peace is remembering that He did not leave us alone. One of my favorite lines from the Gospel is when Jesus says, “I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b) Those words always comfort me because they remind me that even though Christ ascended into heaven, and through the Holy Spirit, He remains present in our daily lives, even in ordinary moments. Especially this week, I needed to be reminded that He is with me always, and so I should not fear.
ReplyDeleteI experience that closeness most when I pray honestly, especially when I stop trying to sound “perfect” and simply speak to Him from my heart. I also feel His presence through Scripture, in quiet moments after Mass, and through the kindness and encouragement of other people (you know who you are). The more I try to turn away from sin and trust Him, the more I notice that He has never really been far away at all.
The Ascension fills me with hope and joy because it reminds me that Jesus reigns with love, not with the kind of power the world often shows. Even though He is King over all nations, He still cares deeply for each of us personally. That realization inspires me to praise Him with gratitude rather than fear. When life feels uncertain or overwhelming, I remember that Christ has already overcome death and reigns in glory, and that gives me strength. The joy of the Ascension is not just that Jesus went to heaven, but that He opened the way for us to follow Him someday. That hope makes me want to live my faith more fully and praise Him with confidence and joy.
ReplyDelete"God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne." Verse 8 of Psalm 47 helps us envision the glory of the foreshadowed Ascension of Jesus -- 40 days after the Resurrection. We picture Jesus' physical rising into the heavens, above Mt. Olive, to the awe and adoration of his apostles, Mary, and some of his followers.
Rather than being a point of separation, between the divine and the material worlds, we get a sense of continuation.
Jesus gives The Great Commision to "go and make disciples of all nations" and says, "... I am with you always, to the close of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20).
We are to carry on the work of our Great Teacher, by becoming teachers ourselves. The desire of the Father and the Son for the world to know of their great love is made possible through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Abba Father will never leave us without the tools we need to do His will, such as wisdom, mercy, strength, and favor.
I know that when I lack such reassurances, it isn't the Lord who moved positions and ascended too high. It was me who side-stepped his help by being too self-reliant.
In order to walk in obedience, I need to surrender and re-surrender myself to Jesus in prayer.
I must embrace humility and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to me where I have sinned or fallen short. And as I grow in self-awareness, I also grow in faith that my Triune God is cheering me on; he further bestows on me what I need to be a good disciple, making himself present to me.