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Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord – May 16, 2021

Bishop’s Reflections

May 16, 2021

Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click HERE for the readings.

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord – May 16, 2021

Today in the Diocese of Cleveland we meditate on the ascension of Jesus into heaven.

After appearing to his disciples after the resurrection, Jesus is lifted from their sight on a cloud to take his seat at the right hand of God. He went to the Father with a promise that in a few days his disciples would receive the Holy Spirit, going so far as to call it a baptism. In other words, they would be immersed in this new gift of God’s presence.

Obviously, as Jesus ascends on the cloud his disciples are looking up after him. But then “two men dressed in white garments” stood beside them and asked them, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?” In other words, they told them to get to work. Go out and announce the good news.

This is the same message that Jesus gave as his last instruction to us: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”

This is ultimately the mission of the Church. To proclaim that Jesus, by his suffering, death, and resurrection, has saved us. He is our God and Lord. This is the core belief of the Christian. By this faith we are saved. Those who believe in him will follow him to where he is now, at the right hand of the Father. And those who are baptized by water and the Spirit, will have the very life of God within them even now, even here on earth.

May our hearts be lifted up with Jesus to the heavens. May we have a taste of heaven today in our worship. May we be sent forth as people on mission for the Church — to tell the good news of the story of Jesus, the God who came to us, so that we could go with him.

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