Lectio Divina

Ascension_Obereschach_Pfarrkirche_Fresko_Fugel_Christi_Himmelfahrt_crop — *Christi Himmelfahrt* by Gebhard Fugel, c. 1893

Let us live in joyful expectation of his return in glory!”

Magnificat

seventh sunday of easter

by Reason2bCatholic

On this 7th Sunday of Easter, where the Solemnity of the Ascension is celebrated, we are there with the Apostles and with Mary, witnesses to Jesus ascending to his throne, seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

In Catholicism, Lectio Divina (from the Latin for Holy Reading) is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation, and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's word.  For the practitioner, it follows a common rhythm of quiet reading (often aloud to oneself), of thoughtful meditation and contemplation on what one has read, and then, if so moved, of a prayerful dialogue with God in response to what one has encountered in scripture.  This reflective, meditative active listening, if you will, allows the Holy Spirit to deepen one's awareness of God's presence and invites His initiative to speak with us.

Mass Readings, Seventh Sunday of Easter, May 24, 2020:

Acts 1:1–11
Psalm 47:2–3, 6–7, 8–9
Ephesians 1:17–23
Matthew 28:16–20

Gospel

LISTEN: Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven. (Acts 1:11)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 28:16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

The Gospel of the Lord

reflection

CONSIDER: To fully understand – to fully appreciate – the Ascension of Jesus and why it matters, we must enter fully into the Jewish context of this Feast, as the First Century Jews, as the first Apostles did.

A reflection on the Feast of the Ascension as published, Why the Ascension of Jesus Matters by Bishop Robert Barron; YouTube, June 21, 2011.

Rembrandt, The Ascension, 1636, oil on canvas, Alte Pinakothek, Munich, Germany

prayer

On this Seventh Sunday of Easter – the Solemnity of the Ascension – let us pray to be united with the Apostles and Mary, eye-witnesses to the Risen Lord; eye-witnesses to the Ascension.

Let us pray.

Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.

In my limited understanding, please place me there, with your Apostles and with Mary, in your presence. Give me an understanding of your Ascension into Heaven;

Help me to know you, seated in your glory at the right hand of the Father; fill me with the confidence that in your Ascension you unite Heaven and Earth;

May your will be done in all things, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Amen

Author, Reason2bCatholic

Additional Reflection

For additional reflection on the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord see Easter Reflections – May 24th 2020 by Dr. Timothy Gray at Formed by the Augustine Institute, https://watch.formed.org/videos/easter-reflections-may-24-2020 .

You may also listen to Dr. Scott Hahn’s reflection of The Ascension for May 24, 2020, as published at Breaking the Bread, St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, https://stpaulcenter.com/studies-tools/sunday-bible-reflections/ :