The Ascension
Weekday liturgy (Year 1) — White
1st Reading
Acts 18:1-8
Lectio (Reading)
Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus,
who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla
because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.
He went to visit them and, because he practiced the same trade,
stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
Every sabbath, he entered into discussions in the synagogue,
attempting to convince both Jews and Greeks.
When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia,
Paul began to occupy himself totally with preaching the word,
testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
When they opposed him and reviled him,
he shook out his garments and said to them,
“Your blood be on your heads!
I am clear of responsibility.
From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
So he left there and went to a house
belonging to a man named Titus Justus, a worshiper of God;
his house was next to a synagogue.
Crispus, the synagogue official, came to believe in the Lord
along with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians
who heard believed and were baptized.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
Lectio (Reading)
R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
2nd Reading
Gospel Reading
John 16:16-20
Lectio (Reading)
Jesus said to his disciples:
“A little while and you will no longer see me,
and again a little while later and you will see me.”
So some of his disciples said to one another,
“What does this mean that he is saying to us,
‘A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me,’
and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ of which he speaks?
We do not know what he means.”
Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them,
“Are you discussing with one another what I said,
‘A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me’?
Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices;
you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”
Meditatio (Reflecting)
Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”
Oratio (Responding)
Jesus said “while the world rejoices; you will grieve.” I cannot think of a better description of the end times. It is said that the world will descend into war, and many will die, but then one man will rise on the world stage and all of the world will be united in peace, under him. This man will be the “antichrist.” The whole world will be materially “happy,” and think mistakely that this false leader is the messiah. But this leader will bring suffering, not joy.
The church, and those that believe in Jesus and the prophecies of this time, will become very small, but will be extremely faithful. This remnant will mourn the state of things, and will be deeply hated by the world, and its new “great” leader. Persecutions, and even martyrdoms will likely happen. But after that time, when the Lord returns and brings justice, we faithfull few will become joyful at the justice of the Lord.
But this teaching also has a meaning for us right now. If today, the world rejoices, it is because it has relied on worldly things. Look at the state of the world, this is one of the most me centered self indulgent generations of all time. This is not something that we should be part of, or even indulge in. We must trust in the Lord and wait for His promises. In that faith and trust is the true happiness that God wants for us, and what I want to wait for.
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.
Resolutio (Resolving)
Oh Lord, help me not to fall into the lures and temptations of the world, but instead trust solely in you, and in your great mecy and love for us. Amen.