Mass Reading: Sunday - 01st June 2025

First reading
Acts 1:1-11
Jesus was lifted up while they looked on

    In my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning until the day he gave his instructions to the apostles he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. He had shown himself alive to them after his Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days he had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God. When he had been at table with them, he had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised. ‘It is’ he had said ‘what you have heard me speak about: John baptised with water but you, not many days from now, will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’

    Now having met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, has the time come? Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth.’

    As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two men in white were standing near them and they said, ‘Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 46(47):2-3,6-9

God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.

All peoples, clap your hands,
    cry to God with shouts of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, we must fear,
    great king over all the earth.

God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.

God goes up with shouts of joy;
    the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.
Sing praise for God, sing praise,
    sing praise to our king, sing praise.

God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.

God is king of all the earth,
    sing praise with all your skill.
God is king over the nations;
    God reigns on his holy throne.

God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.

________

Second reading
Ephesians 1:17-23
God made him sit at his right hand in heaven

    May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. This you can tell from the strength of his power at work in Christ, when he used it to raise him from the dead and to make him sit at his right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named not only in this age but also in the age to come. He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Mt28:19,20

Alleluia, alleluia!

Go, make disciples of all the nations.
I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Luke 24:46-53
He withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven

    Jesus said to his disciples:

    ‘You see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this.

    ‘And now I am sending down to you what the Father has promised. Stay in the city then, until you are clothed with the power from on high.’

    Then he took them out as far as the outskirts of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. Now as he blessed them, he withdrew from them and was carried up to heaven. They worshipped him and then went back to Jerusalem full of joy; and they were continually in the Temple praising God.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 01st June 2025

 

ACTS 1:1-11; PS 47:2-3, 6-9; EPH 1:17-23 or HEB 9:24-28; 10;19-23; LK 24: 46-53

On this Feast of the Ascension, we celebrate Christ’s triumphant return to the Father after perfectly accomplishing His mission on earth. But we also can also view this Feast as a celebration of the “launch day” of our commissioning as Christ’s disciples.

Both the First Reading and today’s Gospel draw our attention to the clear instructions that Jesus gave His disciples just before ascending to the Father. In the First Reading, from Acts, He tells them (and us) “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Then in the Gospel, from Luke, we read, “Jesus said to his disciples: “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."

Embracing a stewardship way of life, with its emphasis on the use of time, talent, and treasure, helps us to live in such a way that our very lives speak as a witness of the Good News of the Gospel. While we take time to reflect and renew our commitments in these three areas annually as a parish family, it is of great benefit to take some time individually throughout the year to take stock of the commitments we have made — looking at both our strengths and our need for continued growth in each area.

In the use of Time, we can ask ourselves if we are keeping the particular prayer commitments we have made. If so, have I noticed a deepened closeness to our Lord and an increase in virtue in my daily life? Perhaps I have let one or two of my “holy habits” go by the wayside. Then simply re-commit to them. Or maybe my prayer commitments have become routine and I could carry them out more intentionally once again. Maybe my schedule has changed and I need to establish a new time to pray.

In the use of Talent, have I stayed faithful to the ministry commitments I made? How is my attitude towards serving? Am I joyful and humble about the work I am doing? How has my serving of others changed and blessed me?

Finally, let’s take a look at our use of Treasure. Have I been generous in my financial giving? If so, have I noticed a deepening trust in God’s care for me? Have I become a little more detached from the pull of materialism that surrounds us all in this day and age?

A stewardship way of life is challenging because it is counter-cultural to put God and others before ourselves. But that is precisely why this way of life is such a powerful witness to the message of the Gospel. And we can embrace this way of life with great confidence and joy because we are not expected to do this on our own. Our Gospel passage today tells us we are “clothed with power from on high.” Whether it is as small a detail as finding a new prayer time, or as big as changing career paths to be more available to loved ones, we have the power of the Holy Spirit to show us the way,

On this Feast of the Ascension, take the time to celebrate your victories as Christ’s disciples and renew your commitment to remain faithful to Him and the unique mission He has entrusted to you!