Ascension Sunday

 It seems easy for Catholics to overlook the Ascension. The agony of Good Friday, the joy of the Resurrection and excitement of Pentecost are so often the high points of our liturgical devotion and pious reflection. Yet, we hear in Eucharistic Prayer III: "Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the saving Passion of your Son, his wondrous Resurrection and Ascension into heaven, and as we look forward to his second coming. we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice." The Catholic Bishops of New Zealand have transferred this feast to a Sunday celebration so that we do not miss out on its significance. Do we hear the words of the angels?: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven?" (Acts 1: 11) Are we open to the Great Commission given by the Risen Christ?: "All authority 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, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you." (Mtt 28: 18-19) If we are uncertain and even afraid let us also be reassured by the words that come next: "And remember I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Mtt 28: 20) In the Gospel of Mark the same message is put this way: "So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it." (Mk 16: 20)