Ascension of the Lord Year A 2023

Peter H. Davids

Easter • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

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There are three journeys in our life, inward to God, in part in conviction of the resurrection of Christ, upward to the Ascended Christ in worship and obedience, and, on this basis, outward in mission as his body in the world. Expressed differently by Luke and Matthew, the question remains for us today: are we doing it?

Notes

Transcript

Title

Ascension Means Mission

Outline

One of the first books on spirituality I read was Journey Inward, Journey Outward.

The argument was that we first had to journey inward, deep into God, into Jesus, and then we could journey outward into mission, whichever mission God has called us to. We could add a third journey to that picture, which is journey upward.

Acts has all three journeys

The journey inward was the deep conviction of the physical reality of the resurrection of Jesus “by many proofs.” They knew that the Lord lived and this was the basis for the conviction of our own resurrection: what he is (in this respect) we also shall be.

The journey upward is the ascension of Jesus, presented in very physical images even though it means that the resurrected body can transcend time and space. Ephesians focuses on this and points to it as showing the Father displaying “Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body.” Because he is in that domain he can rule in all domains simultaneously and we can be his body in this domain. It is all him and his authority.

The journey outward is the missional (versus the personal or baptismal) coming of the Spirit at Pentecost with missional gifts divided unevenly among us for the cooperative carrying out of proclamation “in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” In Acts the focus is on Jerusalem to Rome, the center of the world for them.

We get a different condensed version in Matthew

The resurrected Jesus whom they had experienced takes them to Galilee, the place of transfiguration in Matthew, even taking doubters, and declares, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Because he ascends he both has all power and can be ever with us. Our job is to and make disciples by (1) “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit” and (2) “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

The question for us is twofold:

Are we really convinced that Jesus is the ascended Lord?

And are we doing this, bringing all to pledge their allegiance to the Triune God in baptism and instructing them to obey everything he taught, for he is Lord?

Perhaps we can add a third: are we ourselves “observing all that he has commanded the apostles” as a first step in each direction?

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 5-21-2023: Ascension of the Lord

FIRST READING

Acts 1:1–11

CHAPTER 1*

1 In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught 2 until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; 5 for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.”

6 When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. 10 While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

Catholic Daily Readings 5-21-2023: Ascension of the Lord

RESPONSE

Psalm 47:6

6 God has gone up with a shout;

the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.

PSALM

Psalm 47:2–3, 6–9

2 All you peoples, clap your hands;

shout to God with joyful cries.

3 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,

the great king over all the earth,

6 God has gone up with a shout;

the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.

7 Sing praise to God, sing praise;

sing praise to our king, sing praise.

8 For God is king over all the earth;

sing hymns of praise.

9 God rules over the nations;

God sits upon his holy throne.

Catholic Daily Readings 5-21-2023: Ascension of the Lord

SECOND READING

Ephesians 1:17–23

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. 18 May the eyes of [your] hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, 20 which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, 21 far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Catholic Daily Readings 5-21-2023: Ascension of the Lord

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 28:19a, 20b

19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

GOSPEL

Matthew 28:16–20

16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. 18 Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 5-21-2023: Ascension of the Lord

SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2023 | EASTER

ASCENSION OF THE LORD

In dioceses where Ascension is observed on Sunday.

YEAR A | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

On the same date: 7th Sunday of Easter

First Reading Acts 1:1–11

Response Psalm 47:6

Psalm Psalm 47:2–3, 6–9

Second Reading Ephesians 1:17–23

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 28:19a, 20b

Gospel Matthew 28:16–20

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