The Gospel
Luke 24:44-53
Jesus said to his disciples, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you -- that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
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"You are witnesses of these things." These are powerful words that Jesus speaks moments before ascending to the Father. Often on the feast of Ascension we spend a lot of time actually pondering ascent of Jesus. But what if there might be something else worthy of our attention on this feast? There is something greater. Jesus has called us to be witnesses. And what do witnesses do? They share a story. They proclaim what they have seen and heard. They are heralds for truth.
It is this way of life that the ascending Christ calls us to embrace. On this feast, may we be bold enough to embrace that calling to be witnesses to Christ and his mighty acts and life-giving presence.
Father Tim+
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