HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD YEAR A.
THEME: Jesus said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
BY: FR. DEOTATIOUS CHIKONTWE SMA.
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Acts 1:1-11
Ephesians 1:17-23
Matthew 28:16-20
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
WHITE
*INTRODUCTION*
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the mother Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. Traditionally this feast of the Ascension of Our Lord is held exactly 40 days after Easter, which falls on a Thursday. However in most countries, the observance of the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is moved to the following Sunday, superseding the 7th Sunday of Easter.
Ascension means 40 days after the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and now ascended in glory to His heavenly Throne.
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In our First Reading from Acts 1:1-11 the author of this passage recounts the events that occurred between Jesus’ resurrection and his ascension. Jesus appeared to his disciples, gave them instructions and promises, and was taken up into heaven while they watched.
*FROM OUR SECOND READING*
In our Second Reading from Ephesians 1:17-23: Here we find a prayer of Paul for the faithful of the Ephesians, asking God to give them spiritual wisdom and knowledge so that they may understand the hope and inheritance they have in Christ. Paul also emphasizes the power of God that was revealed when Christ was raised from the dead and exalted to the highest place, above all earthly powers and authorities.
*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
In our Gospel reading of today from Matthew 28:16-20: In this passage we hear how the resurrected Jesus appears to his disciples on a mountain in Galilee. Jesus commissions his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything he has commanded.
RELATED: HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF ASCENSION
*WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE LITURGICAL READINGS OF TODAY?*
Dear friends in Christ, two important are lessons are reflected in todays feast.
1. The first one is the, *The Great Commission:* This is a command given by Jesus to his disciples to go out to the world and make disciples of all nations. The Great Commission requires the disciples to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations. This emphasizes the importance of reaching out beyond one’s own community to share the message of Jesus Christ.
2. The second one is, *Getting out of our comfort zones:* Making disciples often requires stepping outside of one’s comfort zone and engaging with people who may have different backgrounds, cultures, or beliefs. This is emphasized in the Great Commission as disciples are called to go out to all nations.
*CONCLUSION*
On this great day, let us all remind ourselves that we have important mission in our lives and in our various respective ministries and vocations, be it as those called to the priesthood and holy orders, or those called to the religious and consecrated life, or those called to a life of holy singlehood and other forms of ministry associated with that, and of course as Christian couples and families tasked with the building of the faithful Christianfamilies. Each one of us should do our best to proclaim the Lord and His Good News, to those around us, both within and outside the Church, by our exemplary and faithful life.
Happy Ascension Feast of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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