THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Go, make disciples of all the nations.
I am with you always; yes, to the end of time. MT 29:19, 20

ACTS 1:1-11 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

This is our glorious hope, that while we live in this valley of tears, while we yet travail in this world where we are but exiles and pilgrims we wait with expectant faith for Your glorious return. The Apostles' eyes were fixed upward as You ascended into heaven and there they might have stayed had not the two angels in white suddenly appeared and standing near them reminded them of the urgency of the mandate You had already given to them, ‘Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there.’

The mission is clear - it is unchanging, the same mission entrusted to the Apostles, the disciples is also entrusted to all the baptized. We are messengers given a clear and urgent mandate, we are to be Your ‘witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth.’ We cannot be navel-gazing but we are to rise up and go where the Holy Spirit sends us. But first, we need to wait and pray for the Helper, the Comforter, the Guide, the Paraclete for without Him all our endeavors will be fruitless.

Through Baptism, we have received the Holy Spirit, through Confirmation we acknowledge that we have received Him and we accept the divine command to go out and preach the Good News through our lives. Help us not to get stuck on useless issues nor to be morbidly curious, rather, filled with the Holy Spirit and guided by Him may we live from moment to moment, day to day, until the end of our journey as we wait in joyful hope to be united with You eternally. 

 PSALM 46(47):2-3,6-9 ©

My Soul Beloved,

Praise is what fuels us and energizes us. When we are mindful of all that God has accomplished for us sinners in and through You and what is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit our whole being will thrill to Your love, Your goodness, Your mercy, and tender compassion.

Keep us ever alive in the Holy Spirit, Beloved, so nothing will seem impossible for us for it is He who will help us, encourage us, inspire us, strengthen us, and provide all the help and grace we need for the journey to the Kingdom of God.

God is king of all the earth,
sing praise with all your skill.
God is king over the nations;
God reigns on his holy throne.

God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.

EPHESIANS 1:17-23 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

We thrill at the wonderful truths of our faith revealed by the Holy Spirit to Paul, the great Apostle of faith. We need the Holy Spirit and this is why You had to go to the Father and sent Him to us. Why do we need Him? Because with His help we will be able to understand the great mysteries of our faith and what God has done for us in and through You. Every promise, every prophecy is fulfilled in You and because He is given to us we believe. We are able to acknowledge that You are Lord only because of faith which is His gift to us.

We make the prayer of St. Paul to the Holy Spirit our own today, 'May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers'. 

You, O Lord, are now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. All things are under Your feet, You are the ruler of everything, You are the head of the Church and we the members of Your body receive the same fullness of the Holy Spirit that fills the whole creation. In the Spirit, You are in us, and we are in You. Alleluia!

MATTHEW 28:16-20 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Thank You for the mission given to the Church, to all the baptized, and to me individually as well. Grant me all the grace I need through the power and presence of Your Holy Spirit dwelling in me. I give Him complete autonomy over my life. I submit to His rule, His dominion, and His power over me in every way and in all things. 

You abide in me and I in You. With You in me and I in You I am unconquerable.

‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’