ASCENSION (cycle C)*

St. Luke's gospel. in its closÏng verses, has Christ telling his disciples that they are witnesses to his saving work. They are chosen to preach the message of salvation. The gospel ends with the disciples praying in the temple speking the praises of God. In the opening passage of Acts the disciples are instructed to wait for the promised Advocate who will be the fulfillment of the Father's promise. This Spirit of Christ will con-e, and this will be the t of 'baptism with the Holy Spirit,' which will give a new energy to them.

Then their work will begin in earnest. Following this final instruction, Jesus ascends to glory.

Psalm 47 praises the universal sovereignty of God. All nations are called to give homage with joy and enthusiasm: "clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness" (vs. 2). God is called "the Most High, the awesome, the great king over all the earth" (vs. 3). His sovereignty is proclaimed in verse 6, which is also our response verse: "God mounts his throne to shouts of joy, a blare of trumpets for the Lord." The universality of his kingdom is again noted: "king of all the earth is God,..God reigns over the nations" (vs. 8).

Historically God gave proof of his power, certainly to Israel, but it was noticed by the nations as well. The verse which follows the last of our response verses notes this recognition: "The princes of the peoples [foreign peoples] are gathered together with the people of the God of Abraham" (vs. 10), in recognition of and in homage to God.

Today in context of this solemnity we give a transferred meaning to verse 6; we refer it to Christ ascending into heaven: "God mounts his throne to shouts of joy." We are proclaiming the triumphant conclusion to Christ's earthly mission and his return to his heavenly throne.

Our passage from the Letter to the Ephesians speaks of the effect of Christ's heavenly reign. All things and peoples are 'under Christ's feet.' His universal power is a fact, he "fills the universe in all its parts."

The gospel accounts note the Jesus' final instructions to his disciples and the transfer of his power to them through the sending of his Spirit who will remain with them - and us.

We now move from the time of Jesus to the time of the Church. This solemnity, the celebration of it calls us to reaffirm our faith in Jesus, still in our midst through the gift of His Spirit. Today in professing our faith we recommit ourselves to the mission of carrying the Good News to everyone we met, until the message of the gospels is embraced by all peoples.

* ©Resurrection of Lazarus by Herman Falke, scj (CA)