May 29, 2022, The Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year C)
For the most part the readings for Mass in the lectionary follow a standard format with a First Reading from the Old Testament containing a theme related to the Gospel. However, during the Easter season the First Reading comes from the Acts of the Apostles with narratives concerning the early Church.
Today’s readings are quite unique in that the First Reading from the book of Acts (Acts 1:10-11) is a retelling of the same story about the Ascension found in the Gospel (Lk. 24:46-53). As important as this narrative is for a complete understanding of the Paschal Mystery – the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus – for the most part it is given scant attention within the Gospels. In fact, in most dioceses, in order to get more attention, this feast is celebrated on the seventh Sunday of Easter instead of its scheduled forty days after Easter on Ascension Thursday. Also unique is the fact that both the reading from Acts and the Gospel are written by Luke where it gets the most attention in the New Testament.
After the resurrection narrative in Matthew, we read what is known as the Great Commission (Mt. 28:16-20). The disciples in this passage have traveled to Galilee according to the instructions that they received from Jesus through Mary Magdalene. When they get to the mountain it says that they worshipped him, although some have doubted. Jesus then commissions them to baptize and make disciples of all nations. And he then makes them a promise, “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20). There is no mention of an ascension in this conclusion of Matthew.
Mark’s Gospel is similar to Mathew’s. Mary Magdalene is the first to see the risen Lord and she brings a report of an empty tomb to the disciples, but they have trouble believing her. However, after appearing to the disciples during the course of a meal and rebuking them for their disbelief, Jesus commissions them to go to all of the world to baptize and convince converts by working signs. Unlike Matthew, Mark does describe Jesus being taken up to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.
In John’s gospel there is no actual ascension scene. Rather Jesus meets the disciples where they have gone fishing in Galilee, and he speaks to them a final time over a meal. Here he commissions Peter to “care for his sheep” repeating the question, “Do you love me?” three times as a counter to Peter’s three-time denial of Jesus during his trial (Jn. 21:15-19). This Gospel then concludes with a vow from the “Beloved Disciple” testifying that all he has seen and reported is true. (Jn. 21:24-25).
Lastly, we come to Luke’s writings from Acts and the Gospel. Although both readings are a duplication of the story of the Ascension each contains important details. Chronologically the Gospel comes first so it’s helpful to start with this passage. It is quite straightforward and contains nothing which precludes the disciples nor makes it difficult for them to understand.
This version of the ascension story succinctly describes the way in which everything that has happened has been done in order to fulfill the scriptures. This includes most importantly the crucifixion and resurrection of the savior for the sake of repentance and forgiveness of sins. Jesus then commands the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, comes upon them. He blesses them and while this is occurring, “he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven” (Lk.24:51b).
In the version from the Acts of the Apostles there are a few details which stand out. It picks up where the Gospel leaves off in order to serve as an introduction to a second volume of the one complete narrative written by Luke. It is said that the apostles had been commissioned by the Holy Spirit after Jesus had appeared to them for forty days. This forty-day preparation was a significant time period to enable the disciples to complete their training by Jesus. It is like the forty days that Noah spent on the Ark, the forty days that Moses spent on Mount Sinai, or the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert as a preparation for his ministry.
The main thrust of the disciples’ training by Jesus in this time period concerns the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3b). Something which Jesus spoke about numerous times during his ministry. It was even in the form of a prayer that Jesus taught the disciples to recite “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10). Yet the disciples still do not completely comprehend because as Jesus prepares to ascend to the Father they ask him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel?” (Acts 1:6).
Now that the resurrection has proven to them that Jesus is the Messiah, they look for the day when he will assume a throne of leadership like the Roman Emperor and set Israel free. They do not understand that they will be living in a different sort of kingdom once Jesus ascends into heaven. They will assume his ministry through the power of the Holy Spirit. They are, in fact, the kingdom of God, the human component of the Church which will spread the good news of God’s salvation through the belief in Christ. They will continue the teaching, preaching, healing, and forgiveness of sins like Jesus. And they will ultimately share in his martyrdom. In fact, there are two men present in the story, perhaps angels, who prompt them to assume their roles.
Two thousand years later we are still living in the time period known as the “here, but not yet” kingdom of God. The members of our ordained clergy – pope, cardinals, bishops, priests, and deacons – are selected through the process of Apostolic Succession. Many of our laity serve the church in specific responsibilities, such as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, prayer leaders, choir members and other musical roles, sacristans, ushers, catechists, and altar servers.
All ages of the Church gather together for Mass to give glory and praise to our Lord. And when we leave after the dismissal we carry our time and talents to a host of responsibilities, like bringing the Eucharist to the nursing homes and home bound or participating in service roles through organizations such St. Vincent de Paul, the Knights of Columbus, or Catholic Charities.
The list of service opportunities is endless. But most important are the prayerful attitude, and sympathetic gestures that we bring to those around us – our family members, relatives, neighbors, friends, and coworkers. For we are the kingdom of God, the voice and presence of Jesus here on earth until he returns at the end of the age.
