The Ascension of the Lord
Good morning every one, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Our special welcome to all our parishioners, cottagers, visitors and everyone. Dear friends, every time we come to church, we celebrate God our Father who has motherly love for us all, every time we come here we celebrate Christ the descendent one who ascended for us to take us with Him and every time we come to church, we celebrate life in the spirit.
once an angel of the Lord appeared to three wise men and said, “I want to conceal the most precious gift of God namely His own image from man and how can I do it?’ The first wise man said, “you may hide it on the top of the highest mountain on earth where no one can go”. But the angel refused saying man could reach it. The second wise man said, ‘hide it in the depth of the deepest sea”. The angel again refused the idea saying man could reach it and then the last wise man said, “please hide it on the far side of the moon and man can not reach it’. The angel smiled at him and said even there man could reach it. Then the angel said, “I am going to conceal the image of God where people would never think of looking. I will put it into their hearts. There it will never be discovered”.
Thus the image and likeness of God was concealed in the hearts of people and they could not find it at all. Many tried their best but they all failed. They longed for someone to descend from heaven to discover their God-given image. Then finally our Lord Jesus Christ who descended from heaven and saying that we belong to God and God alone. He gave us the courage to call God Father. By His preaching and teaching, miracles and wonders, He let the people to see the image and likeness of God in them. When people discovered their divine belonging, they began to long for God. Christ our Lord brought love, kindness and forgiveness of God almighty to all and thus they began to see the image of god in them.
Even after His resurrection, He stayed with them for forty day appearing to them and giving them peace and prosperity to grow stronger and at last on the fortieth day, in their
their presence the descended one ascended to heaven. Christ our Lord before His ascension asked His apostles, disciples and followers to go everywhere to preach the good news of salvation to all saying, therefore go everywhere and baptized them all in the name of the father, son and the holy spirit. As He ascended, He promised his disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to guide and protect them. The disciples after Pentecost went everywhere as Christ our Lord directed and began to preach the Good News of salvation to all.
Christ our Lord, after His resurrection, for forty days stayed on earth, appearing to His disciples and preparing them to send them out to preach the Good News of the gospel. Then on the fortieth day, in the presence of His disciples and of all his followers, was taken up to heaven. Yes, He who descended ascended into heaven.
1. The Ascension of the Lord tells us where the Risen Christ is now: He is now sitting at the right hand of the father, and fulfilling all our needs. The good Shepherd is looking after his sheep. The Jesus who lived, died and came back to life is still with us, every time we pray, read the bible and come to Church, we can experience his presence among us.
2. The Ascension of our Lord Jesus tells us why Christ appeared to His disciples: He appeared to them to leave behind their fears and anxieties. They were afraid of authorities and were hiding behind locked doors. Every time, Christ appeared to them, he gave them peace and hope and strengthened them to face the world with his love and kindness. He promised them saying, 'don't be afraid, I will be with you until the end of time".
3. The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again on the last day. His coming will be our glory and joy. He comes to judge us and those who follow him, will have life everlasting. And we who follow him will be given new life, so let us eagerly wait for the day.
4. The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that those who follow him should go out and preach the good news to all, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Jesus says we don't need to be worried of what to say and how to say, because everything will be given to us at that time. So let us celebrate his resurrection and ascension and celebrate our life in Him.
