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The Story of the Ascension
Forty days after His glorious Resurrection from the dead, Jesus gathered His apostles one last time. He had appeared to them repeatedly, proving that He was truly alive—eating with them, speaking of the Kingdom of God, and preparing them for what was to come. On this day, on the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem, He gave them final instructions: "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" (Acts 1:8).
As they watched, He was lifted up before their eyes, and a cloud took Him from their sight. The apostles stood there, gazing into the sky in amazement. Suddenly, two men in white garments appeared beside them and 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” (Acts 1:11).
This event, known as the Ascension of the Lord, marks the end of Jesus’ visible earthly ministry and the beginning of the Church’s mission. It is not a farewell of abandonment, but a triumphant return to the Father, where Christ is enthroned as King.
Catholic Readings for the Ascension of the Lord (Year A)
First Reading: Acts 1:1-11 – Luke recounts how Jesus instructed the apostles to wait for the Holy Spirit and was then taken up into heaven.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
R. 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... God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the LORD, amid trumpet blasts. Sing praise to God, sing praise... For king of all the earth is God.
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23 – St. Paul prays that we may know the hope of our calling and the immeasurable power of God at work in us—the same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at the Father’s right hand, far above every authority.
Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20 – The eleven disciples go to Galilee, where the risen Jesus commissions them: “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.”
A Reflection on the Ascension
The Ascension invites us to lift our eyes beyond the troubles of this world. Jesus does not leave us orphaned; He ascends to prepare a place for us and to send the Holy Spirit, who empowers the Church to carry on His work. In the Gospel, we see the disciples worshiping yet still doubting—much like us at times. Yet Jesus approaches them tenderly and entrusts them (and us) with the Great Commission.
This feast reminds us that our faith is not confined to earth. Christ’s humanity is now glorified in heaven, showing us our own destiny: to share in His resurrection and eternal life. As St. Paul tells us in Ephesians, we are part of Christ’s Body, the Church, with Him as our Head. His victory is ours.
Did Jesus Abandon Us? Absolutely Not.
Some might wonder, as the apostles perhaps did in that moment of awe: Has Jesus left us behind? The answer is a resounding no. He promised, “I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). This presence is not distant or abstract. Jesus remains intimately with us in the Most Holy Eucharist—His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity truly present in every tabernacle and at every Mass. In the Eucharist, the same Jesus who ascended is here among us, nourishing us, forgiving us, and uniting us to the Father.
He is also with us through the Holy Spirit, who guides the Church, through the Sacraments, in Sacred Scripture, and in the community of believers. Just as the angels assured the apostles that Jesus would return “in the same way,” we live in joyful expectation of His Second Coming, when He will judge the living and the dead and establish His Kingdom fully.
Until that day, we are called to be His witnesses—to live the Gospel, make disciples, and bring hope to a world that desperately needs it. The Ascension is not an ending; it is a new beginning for us all.
May the ascended Lord bless you, strengthen you in faith, and fill you with the joy of knowing He is with us always. Come, Lord Jesus!
