By Fr. Andrew Kelly
ASCENSION OF THE LORD – MAY 12
The believing community’s mission is grounded in Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 24:46-53):
“Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised…”
But after the mission sending was the blessing:
“…and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.”
A question arises? Does the community’s mission reflect Jesus’ mission? Does the community worship reflect Jesus’ mission? The two are connected.
When worship and mission are disconnected, worship becomes meaningless; and mission becomes about other stuff other than the words and deeds of Jesus.
When mission is driven and sustained by the community worship, its mission will more and more reflect the words and deeds of the Risen Jesus whose mission the community proclaims it is on.
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)
Scripture Readings for May 12-19
Sunday
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Acts 7:55-60
Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
Jn 17:20-26
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
Acts 1:1-11
Eph 1:17-23 or Heb 9:24-28; 10:19-23
Lk 24:46-53
Monday
Acts 19:1-8
Jn 16:29-33
Tuesday
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
Jn 15:9-17
Wednesday
Acts 20:28-38
Jn 17:11b-19
Thursday
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11
Jn 17:20-26
Friday
Acts 25:13b-21
Jn 21:15-19
Saturday
Acts 28:16-20, 30-31
Jn 21:20-25
Sunday
Acts 2:1-11
1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 or
Rom 8:8-17
Jn 20:19-23 or Jn 14:15-16, 23b-26
