Sunday Readings Commentary and Reflections

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Sunday ReadingsCommentary and Reflections

• Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord
• Catholic Communications Sunday
• May 17, 2015
• In preparation for this Sundays liturgy
• As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing

Prepared by Fr Cielo Almazan, OFM
2
1st reading Acts 1,1-11

• 1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about
  all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning
  2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven,
  after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit
  to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his
  suffering he presented himself alive to them by
  many convincing proofs, appearing to them during
  forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
  4 While staying with them, he ordered them not
  to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the
  promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what
  you have heard from me 5 for John baptized with
  water, but you will be baptized with the Holy
  Spirit not many days from now." 6 So when they
  had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this
  the time when you will restore the kingdom to
  Israel?" 7 He replied, "It is not for you to
  know the times or periods that the Father has set
  by his own authority. 8 But you will receive
  power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and
  you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all
  Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
  9 When he had said this, as they were watching,
  he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of
  their sight. 10 While he was going and they were
  gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in
  white robes stood by them. 11 They said, "Men of
  Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward
  heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from
  you into heaven, will come in the same way as you
  saw him go into heaven."

We focus on the ascension of Jesus.
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1st reading Acts 1,1-11
A Simple Outline

• Lukes Story of Jesus from his ministry to his
  ascension
• 1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about
  all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning
  2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven,
  after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit
  to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his
  suffering he presented himself alive to them by
  many convincing proofs, appearing to them during
  forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
  
• Jesus command to wait for the Holy Spirit
• 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to
  leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the
  promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what
  you have heard from me 5 for John baptized with
  water, but you will be baptized with the Holy
  Spirit not many days from now." 6 So when they
  had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this
  the time when you will restore the kingdom to
  Israel?" 7 He replied, "It is not for you to
  know the times or periods that the Father has set
  by his own authority. 8 But you will receive
  power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and
  you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all
  Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
  
• Lukes description of Jesus ascension and the
  apostles gaze and the message of the angels
• 9 When he had said this, as they were watching,
  he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of
  their sight. 10 While he was going and they were
  gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in
  white robes stood by them. 11 They said, "Men of
  Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward
  heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from
  you into heaven, will come in the same way as you
  saw him go into heaven."

4
1st reading Acts 1,1-11

• Lukes Story of Jesus from his ministry to his
  ascension
• 1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about
  all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning
  2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven,
  after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit
  to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his
  suffering, he presented himself alive to them by
  many convincing proofs, appearing to them during
  forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
  

• Commentary
• In v.1, Luke, the author, recalls the story of
  Jesus in the first book, the gospel, he has
  written.
• Luke writes to the same addressee, Theophilus
  (not a man in the streets, but someone who is
  learned, cultured or who can reproduce copies for
  other communities)
• In vv.1-2, Luke reminds Theophilus about the
  works and teachings of Jesus from his baptism to
  his ascension.
• In v.2, Luke says that Jesus ascended into heaven
  after he has given instructions.
• V.3 tells of Jesus appearances and his preaching
  of the kingdom of God, after he suffered (and
  died).

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1st reading Acts 1,1-11

• Jesus command to wait for the Holy Spirit
• 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to
  leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the
  promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what
  you have heard from me 5 for John baptized with
  water, but you will be baptized with the Holy
  Spirit not many days from now." 6 So when they
  had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this
  the time when you will restore the kingdom to
  Israel?" 7 He replied, "It is not for you to
  know the times or periods that the Father has set
  by his own authority. 8 But you will receive
  power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and
  you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all
  Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
  

• V.4 indicates that Jesus is staying with the
  apostles.
• The apostles are told to stay in Jerusalem and
  wait for the promise (Holy Spirit).
• V.5 indicates that the apostles will be baptized
  (meaning, will receive the Holy Spirit at
  Pentecost).
• In v.6, the disciples ask Jesus if their
  reception of the Holy Spirit signals the
  restoration of Israel.
• In v.7, Jesus answers.
• V.8 repeats v.5.
• Jesus assigns them to be his witnesses (to
  testify to him) in all of Israel and the whole
  world.

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1st reading Acts 1,1-11

• Lukes description of Jesus ascension and the
  apostles gaze and the message of the angels
• 9 When he had said this, as they were watching,
  he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of
  their sight. 10 While he was going and they were
  gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in
  white robes stood by them. 11 They said, "Men of
  Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward
  heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from
  you into heaven, will come in the same way as you
  saw him go into heaven."

• In v.9, Jesus ascends into heaven.
• In v.10, two men (angels) appear to them.
• In v.11, the two men ask a question why the
  apostles are looking up to heaven.
• They say that Jesus will descend in the same way
  he ascends into heaven.

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Reflections on the 1st reading

• The ascension is not just the fact of Jesus going
  up to heaven.
• For the apostles, it is the start of the waiting
  for the Holy Spirit to come to them, that they
  may become Jesus witnesses all over the world,
  not just in Israel.
• Now, the apostles will go global.
• Gone will be the days when they will operate only
  within Israel.
• The ascension of Jesus should teach us to widen
  our horizons.

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Resp. Psalm Ps 472-3, 6-7, 8-9

• R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy a
  blare of trumpets for the Lord.
• All you peoples, clap your hands,shout to God
  with cries of gladness,For the LORD, the Most
  High, the awesome,is the great king over all the
  earth.
• God mounts his throne amid shouts of joythe
  LORD, amid trumpet blasts.Sing praise to God,
  sing praisesing praise to our king, sing
  praise.
• For king of all the earth is Godsing hymns of
  praise.God reigns over the nations,God sits
  upon his holy throne.

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Resp. Psalm Ps 472-3, 6-7, 8-9

• Commentary
• The psalm is classified as a royal psalm.
• It is about God sitting on his throne.
• The psalm leads us to believe that Jesus, who is
  God, now sits on his throne. It is a big event.
  It is not a casual sitting down.
• In v.2, the psalmist addresses all the peoples to
  rejoice (clap your hands, sing with cries of
  gladness).
• V.3 gives the reason why God is the great king
• In v.6, God does not simply and quietly sits down
  on his throne, but people render shouts of joy
  and trumpet blasts.
• In v.7, the psalmist exhorts people to sing
  praise to the king
• Vv.8-9 also give the reason for singing.

• R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy a
  blare of trumpets for the Lord.
• 2 All you peoples, clap your hands,shout to God
  with cries of gladness,3 For the LORD, the Most
  High, the awesome,is the great king over all the
  earth.
• 6 God mounts his throne amid shouts of joythe
  LORD, amid trumpet blasts.7 Sing praise to God,
  sing praisesing praise to our king, sing
  praise.
• 8 For king of all the earth is Godsing hymns of
  praise.9 God reigns over the nations,God sits
  upon his holy throne.

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Reflections on the Psalm

• Jesus ascension and sitting on his throne call
  for a celebration.
• On his ascension, we also recognize Christ as
  king, taking his post as the ruler of the
  universe.
• We, Christians, are enjoined to rejoice, to
  celebrate Christs victory over all.
• We should make holy noise, for the whole world to
  hear.
• We communicate our Christian message by our
  joyful and inspiring celebrations.

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2nd Reading Eph 4,1-7.11-13

• 1 I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in
  a manner worthy of the call you have received, 2
  with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
  bearing with one another through love, 3
  striving to preserve the unity of the spirit
  through the bond of peace 4 one body and one
  Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope
  of your call 5 one Lord, one faith, one
  baptism 6 one God and Father of all, who is
  over all and through all and in all.
• 7 But grace was given to each of us according to
  the measure of Christ's gift. 11 And he gave some
  as apostles, others as prophets, others as
  evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, 12
  to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
  for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we
  all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of
  the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent
  of the full stature of Christ.

The focus is on living Christian lives worthily.
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2nd Reading Eph 4,1-7.11-13

• Commentary
• In v.1, Paul, supposedly the author, is in
  prison.
• Paul urges Christians to exhibit a behavior that
  befits their Christian calling (vocation).
• V.2 enumerates what these behaviors are
• Humility (not insisting on ones ego)
• Gentleness (treating people with delicadeza)
• Patience (ability to tolerate mistakes or
  shortcomings without flaring up)
• Bearing with one another (ability to endure
  others excesses and failures)

• 1 I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in
  a manner worthy of the call you have received, 2
  with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
  bearing with one another through love,

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2nd Reading Eph 4,1-7.11-13

• 3 striving to preserve the unity of the spirit
  through the bond of peace

• V.3 also ask Christians to preserve unity in
  spirit (in vision, in purpose).
• No Christian should divide the community by
  his/her misbehavior.
• V.3 also mentions the way to preserve unity
  through the bond of peace.
• Bond of peace means Christians are enjoined to
  preserve peace by being peaceable at all cost.

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2nd Reading Eph 4,1-7.11-13

• 4 one body and one Spirit, as you were also
  called to the one hope of your call 5 one Lord,
  one faith, one baptism 6 one God and Father of
  all, who is over all and through all and in all.

• V.4 gives reason why we have to be united
• We belong to one body and one Spirit.
• We have one hope (destiny, heaven).
• V.5 gives another reason for unity
• We have one Lord, one faith
• We receive one baptism
• V.6 adds another reason
• We have one God and Father.

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2nd Reading Eph 4,1-7.11-13

• 7 But grace was given to each of us according to
  the measure of Christ's gift. 11 And he gave some
  as apostles, others as prophets, others as
  evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,

• V.7 talks about our giftedness. No one is not
  gifted by Christ.
• V.11 enumerates the gifts (charisms) of vocation
• Apostles (like the 12 apostles)
• Prophets (those who speak on behalf of God)
• Evangelists (those who write or proclaim the
  gospel)
• Pastors (leaders of the churches, shepherds)
• Teachers (catechists, theology professors)

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2nd Reading Eph 4,1-7.11-13

• 12 to equip the holy ones for the work of
  ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13
  until we all attain to the unity of faith and
  knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,
  to the extent of the full stature of Christ.

• In v.12, the holy ones seem to be assigned to
  build up the church (these are active church
  members).
• V.13 intimates that all of these offices will
  function until we become united in faith and
  knowledge of Jesus, and we become fully mature in
  Christ (spiritually mature).

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Reflections on the 2nd reading

• God wills unity in the Church.
• Unity does not mean we are doing the same things.
• God has given us different assignments.
• He has called each of us to perform well in our
  respective assignments/ministries for the
  betterment of the Church.

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Reflections, cont

• God asks us to respect the gifts he has given us.
• Let us prove to be worthy of those gifts and
  calling.
• We should not afford to squander them.
• We are not putting them into use
• if we are the source of division in our
  communities,
• if we are hampering their development by our
  frequent absences or negligence
• If we are not doing our homework.

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Gospel Mk 16,15-20

• 15 Jesus said to his disciples, "Go into the
  whole world and proclaim the gospel to every
  creature. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized
  will be saved whoever does not believe will be
  condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those
  who believe in my name they will drive out
  demons, they will speak new languages. 18 They
  will pick up serpents (with their hands), and if
  they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm
  them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they
  will recover." 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after
  he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and
  took his seat at the right hand of God. 20 But
  they went forth and preached everywhere, while
  the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word
  through accompanying signs.

The focus is on the ascension of Jesus.
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Gospel Mk 16,15-20
A simple outline!

• Mission Sending
• 15 Jesus said to his disciples, "Go into the
  whole world and proclaim the gospel to every
  creature. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized
  will be saved whoever does not believe will be
  condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those
  who believe in my name they will drive out
  demons, they will speak new languages. 18 They
  will pick up serpents (with their hands), and if
  they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm
  them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they
  will recover."
• Ascension
• 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to
  them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat
  at the right hand of God.
• Mission in Action
• 20 But they went forth and preached everywhere,
  while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the
  word through accompanying signs.

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Gospel Mk 16,15-20

• Commentary
• Scholars believe that Marks gospel ends in 168.
• Our reading today is not in the original gospel
  of Mark.
• Well, we still entertain it because it is
  accepted in the canon.
• The Christian churches preserved this reading in
  their liturgies they found it helpful for their
  churches. It did not constitute a threat to their
  faith. It enhanced the gospel of Mark. If it were
  not there, they would feel something was lacking
• As in the 1st and 2nd readings, the idea of
  ascension takes a few words only.
• We find more words about the commissioning of the
  apostles, about their mission.
• It is clear by now that we cannot discuss the
  mystery of the ascension without the mission of
  the apostles and the church.

• Mission Sending
• 15 Jesus said to his discples, "Go into the whole
  world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.
  16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be
  saved whoever does not believe will be
  condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those
  who believe in my name they will drive out
  demons, they will speak new languages. 18 They
  will pick up serpents (with their hands), and if
  they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm
  them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they
  will recover."
• Ascension
• 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to
  them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat
  at the right hand of God.
• Mission in Action
• 20 But they went forth and preached everywhere,
  while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the
  word through accompanying signs.

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Reflections on the gospel reading

• The 11 apostles, to be true to their name, must
  be sent (apostellein means to send).
• They are sent by the resurrected and
  soon-to-ascend, Jesus.
• To be a follower (or believer) of Jesus, one must
  work for the salvation of mankind (by preaching,
  baptizing, exorcizing, speaking in tongues, being
  unharmed, by healing).
• With the physical absence of Jesus, Christians
  should make Jesus present in the world.

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Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm

• Before ascending, Jesus instructs his apostles to
  wait for the Holy Spirit and then do their
  mission (1st reading)
• Right before ascending, Jesus commands his
  apostles to preach, baptize, etc. (mission ad
  gentes) for the salvation of mankind. The
  apostles obey (gospel reading)
• Long after Jesus ascension, Paul instructs the
  brethren to promote unity among themselves
  (mission inter gentes). (2nd reading)
• The psalm commands us to celebrate the ascension
  of Jesus, seating on his throne like his Father.
  (Psalm)

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How to develop your homily/sharing

• What is the meaning of the Ascension of our Lord?
• We get the meaning from the readings and from the
  psalm.
• Let us not waste time trying to explain
  scientifically how Jesus went up to heaven.
• We will never get a satisfactory answer.
• We should be more interested in the meaning of
  the story of his Ascension.

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• Based on the gospel reading, for Jesus, it is
  about giving final instructions to his apostles.
• He instructs them to proclaim the gospel to every
  creature.
• He assures salvation to those who believe in
  their preaching.
• It is, most of all, about his going up into
  heaven and sitting at the right hand of the
  Father.
• For the disciples, it is the execution of his
  instructions to proclaim the gospel to all.

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• Based on the first reading, the period between
  the Ascension and the Pentecost is a time of
  waiting for the Holy Spirit.
• The apostles cannot do their mission without
  first receiving the Holy Spirit.
• The Acts of the Apostles adds this important
  detail after the Ascension of Jesus.
• It also clarifies their mistaken notion that
  Jesus is a political messiah. He will not restore
  Israel from their point of view.
• His Ascension brings out a promise that Jesus is
  coming back, in the same manner that he is going
  up to heaven.

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• The second reading does not directly talk about
  the Ascension of Jesus.
• Instead, the author gives instructions on how to
  promote or maintain unity in the midst of their
  diverse gifts and positions in the community.
• Christian discipleship is not only proclaiming
  the gospel to all nations, but also maintaining
  order and harmony in the Church.
• It would be unbecoming of a Christian if she / he
  does not make use of her / his gifts to help
  others grow into Christian maturity.

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• The responsorial psalm celebrates God taking his
  seat upon his throne.
• Since we believe Jesus is also God, with the
  psalm, we can also rejoice with thundering praise
  at his Ascension and his sitting at the right
  hand of the Father.
• We do not let go of this big event unnoticed.
• This is the way to witness that truly Christ is
  the Son of God, the king, going back to his seat
  which was vacated due to his incarnation.

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• The Ascension of Jesus should make our vision
  more horizontally than vertically oriented.
• We, Christians, should now be heavily involved
  with our mission of proclaiming the gospel, etc.
• But how much of our time are we wasting doing
  nothing in our churches and premises, rather than
  searching for the lost souls outside the church?
• There should be more personal or group activity
  outside the church than inside the church in
  terms of evangelization.
• There are always masses and sacraments in the
  church, but they should not be an excuse for us,
  Christians, not to get involved with the peoples
  struggles outside.

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• In our parishes, we should seek the un-churched
  and bring back those who have lost their faith,
  and make them active in their own areas.
• Enough is clericalism (love of lay wearing
  sotanas, looking like little priests looking
  nice - narcissistic, serving the masses whole
  day, without commitment to evangelize ones own
  household and neighborhood (mission) and
  alleviate their situation - JPIC). Or the priests
  and deacons taking over the role of the lay.

31

• The eucharist is the sign of Jesus presence to
  us especially after his ascension.
• The eucharist is the sacrament of Christian
  unity.
• We come home to the eucharist after we have done
  our mission outside the church.
• We bring people to the eucharist, after we have
  taught them how to live our faith.
• Reception of the eucharist is the peak of our
  joyful celebration, without which our
  participation will be incomplete.

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Our Context of Sin and Grace

• Nominal Christians (Christians in name only,
  Christians without a sense of mission)
• Misguided Christians, more time inside the church
  than outside.
• Excessive love for positions, without
  corresponding actions

• Strong missionary spirit
• Integral evangelization, JPIC
• New evangelization
• Catechism
• Liturgical celebrations with skilled musicians

The End
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Suggested Songs

• Go Tell Everyone
• Peace I Leave with You
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v9_hdeV39w8s
• Isang Pananampalataya
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v0uHlLDMpfoU
• There is One Lord by Lucien Deiss
• Follow Christ by Sebastian Temple

You may also read my article in the Sambuhay for
this Sunday.