May 28, 2017 — The Ascension of the Lord
ACTS 1: 1-11; PS 47: 2-3, 6-9; 1 EPH 1: 17-23; MT 28: 16-20
Our first reading is from the Book of Acts. In fact, it is the beginning of that Book. Acts was written by St. Luke. It is a continuation of his Gospel in many ways. We do not learn that much about Luke from the New Testament. Most historians agree that he was a doctor; he was a Gentile; and he was a companion of St. Paul.
Acts is basically the continuation of Jesus’ work as described in the Gospels. In effect it describes how the Good News traveled from Jerusalem to Rome. Our readings today are filled with reminders that Jesus’ work is not completed. He commissioned His followers to continue it after His Ascension into Heaven. Among those commissioned so to speak is each of us.
The Lord’s work continues from that day to today. However, for it to continue and for the love He shared and displayed to be the factor it needs to be in our parish and in the Church and in the world it is reliant upon us.
It was St. Teresa of Avila who wrote, “Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which He looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which He blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are His Body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”
