Sunday, May 12, 2002
Ascension Sunday
1st Reading: Acts 1:12-14
The disciples returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olives, which
is a fifteen-minute walk away. On entering the city they went to the room
upstairs where they were staying. Present there were Peter, John, James
and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, son of
Alpheus; Simon the Zealot and Judas son of James. All of these together
gave themselves to constant prayer. With them were some women and also
Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
2nd Reading: 1 P 4:13-16
Brothers and sisters, you should be glad to share in the sufferings of Christ because, on the day his Glory is revealed, you will also fully rejoice. You are fortunate if you are insulted because of the name of Christ, for the Spirit of glory rests on you. I suppose that none of you should suffer for being a murderer, a thief, a criminal or an informer; but if anyone suffers on account of being a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace; rather let this name bring glory to God.
Gospel:
Jn 17:1-11
Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has
come; give glory to your Son, that the Son may give glory to you. You
have given him power over all mortals, and you want him to bring eternal
life to all you have entrusted to him. For this is eternal life: to know
you, the only true God, and the One you sent, Jesus Christ.
I have glorified you on earth and finished the work that you gave me to
do. Now, Father, give me in your presence the same Glory I had with you
before the world began.
I have made your name known to those you gave me from the world. They
were yours and you gave them to me, and they kept your word. And now they
know that all you have given me comes indeed from you. I have given them
the teaching I received from you, and they received it and know in truth
that I came from you; and they believe that you have sent me.
I pray for them; I do not pray for the world but for those who belong
to you and whom you have given to me - indeed all I have is yours and
all you have is mine - and now they are my glory. I am no longer in the
world, but they are in the world whereas I am going to you. Holy Father,
keep them in your Name (that you have given me,) so that they may be one,
just as we are."
Commentary
How much we know and yet how little we know of God and the ways of God!
We have been allowed to glimpse something undreamed of: in Jesus, God
visited us in an intimate way, at a particular point in time, approaching
us from within. Everything is different because of this: it redefines
what is a human being - a being with a divine origin, a divine destination,
and an openness to the divine throughout the great journey-adventure that
is each one's lifetime. In the second reading, Paul's noble words struggle
to encompass realities beyond words: "He who fills all in all unfolds
his fullness in the community of disciples".
Jesus "ascended" from a particular place and time in order to
be present wherever his disciples are gathered.