Letters From Home

Readings:
Acts 1:1–11
Psalm 47:2–3, 6–7, 8–9
Ephesians 1:17–23
Matthew 28:16–20

(In dioceses where Ascension is celebrated on Thursday, see also the reflection for the Seventh Sunday of Easter.)

In today’s First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke gives the surprising news that there is more of the story to be told. The story did not end with the empty tomb, or with Jesus’ appearances to the Apostles over the course of forty days. Jesus’ saving work will have a liturgical consummation. He is the great high priest, and He has still to ascend to the heavenly Jerusalem, there to celebrate the feast in the true Holy of Holies.

The truth of this feast shines forth from the Letter to the Hebrews, where we read of the great high priest’s passing through the heavens, the sinless intercessor’s sacrifice on our behalf (see Hebrews 4:14–15).

Indeed, His intercession will lead to the Holy Spirit’s descent in fire upon the Church. Luke spells out that promise in the First Reading for the feast of the Ascension: “in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:5). The Ascension is the preliminary feast that directs the Church’s attention forward to Pentecost. On that day, salvation will be complete; for salvation is not simply expiation for sins (that would be wonder enough), but it is something even greater than that. Expiation is itself a necessary precondition of our adoption as God’s children. To live that divine life we must receive the Holy Spirit. To receive the Holy Spirit we must be purified through Baptism.

The Responsorial Psalm presents the Ascension in terms familiar from the worship of the Jerusalem Temple in the days of King Solomon: “God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord” (Psalm 47). The priest-king takes his place at the head of the people, ruling over the nations, establishing peace.

The Epistle strikes a distinctively Paschal note. In the early Church, as today, Easter was the normal time for the baptism of adult converts. The sacrament was often called “illumination” or “enlightenment” because of the light that came with God’s saving grace (see, for example, Hebrews 10:32). Saint Paul, in his Letter to the Ephesians, speaks in terms of glory that leads to greater glories still, as Ascension leads to Pentecost: “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,” he writes, as he looks to the divinization of the believers. Their “hope” is “his inheritance among the holy ones,” the saints who have been adopted into God’s family and now rule with Him at the Father’s right hand.

This is the “good news” the Apostles are commissioned to spread—to the whole world, to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem—at the Ascension. It’s the good news we must spread today.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter by Ms. Joan Watson.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter by Dr. John Bergsma.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Shane Owens.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Readings:
Acts 6:1–7
Psalm 33:1–2, 4–5, 18–19
1 Peter 2:4–9
John 14:1–12

By His death, Resurrection, and Ascension, Jesus has gone ahead to prepare a place for us in His Father’s house.

His Father’s house is no longer a temple made by human hands. It is the spiritual house of the Church, built on the living stone of Christ’s body.

As Peter interprets the Scriptures in today’s Epistle, Jesus is the “stone” destined to be rejected by men but made the precious cornerstone of God’s dwelling on earth (see Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 8:14; 28:16).

Each of us is called to be a living stone in God’s building (see 1 Corinthians 3:9, 16). In this edifice of the Spirit, we are to be “holy priests” offering up “spiritual sacrifices”—all our prayer, work and intentions—to God.

This is our lofty calling as Christians. This is why Christ led us out of the darkness of sin and death as Moses led the Israelites from bondage in Egypt.

God’s covenant with Israel made them a royal and priestly people who were to announce His praises (see Exodus 19:6). By our faith in Christ’s new covenant, we have been made heirs of this chosen race, called to glorify the Father in the temple of our bodies (see 1 Corinthians 6:19–20; Romans 12:1).

In today’s First Reading, we see the spiritual house of the Church being built up as the Apostles consecrate seven deacons so they can devote themselves more fully to the “ministry of the Word.”

The Lord’s Word is upright and all His works trustworthy, we sing in today’s Psalm. So we can trust Jesus when He tells us never to be troubled but to believe that His Word and works come from the Father.

His Word continues its work in the world through the Church. We see its beginnings today in Jerusalem. It is destined to spread with influence and power (see Acts 19:20)and to become the imperishable seed by which every heart is born anew (see 1 Peter 1:23).

Lecturas:
Hechos 6, 1–7
Salmo 33, 1–2.4–5.18–19
1 Pedro 2, 4–9
Juan 14, 1–12

Por su muerte, resurrección y ascensión, Jesús ha ido delante de nosotros para prepararnos un lugar en la casa de su Padre.

La casa del Padre ya no es un templo hecho por manos humanas, sino la casa espiritual de la Iglesia, construida sobre la piedra viva del Cuerpo de Cristo.

Según lo que Pedro interpreta de las Escrituras en la epístola de hoy, Jesús es la “piedra” destinada al rechazo de los hombres pero también a convertirse en piedra angular de la morada de Dios en la tierra (cf. Sal 118,22; Is 8,14; 28,16).

Cada uno de nosotros está llamado a ser una piedra viva de la edificación de Dios (cf. 1Co 3,9.16). En este edificio del Espíritu estamos llamados a ser “santos sacerdotes” que ofrezcan a Dios “sacrificios espirituales” (o sea: todas nuestras oraciones, todo nuestro trabajo y todas nuestras intenciones). Esto es lo sublime de nuestra llamada como cristianos. Por esta razón, Cristo nos sacó de la oscuridad del pecado y de la muerte, como Moisés guió a los israelitas desde la esclavitud de Egipto.

La alianza de Dios con Israel hizo de él un pueblo real y sacerdotal, destinado a anunciar sus alabanzas (cf. Ex 19,6). Por nuestra fe en la nueva alianza de Cristo, hemos sido hechos herederos de esta raza escogida, llamados a glorificar al Padre en el templo de nuestro cuerpo (cf. 1 Co 6,19-20; Rm 12,1).

En la primera lectura de hoy, vemos como se edifica la casa espiritual de la Iglesia cuando los Apóstoles consagran siete diáconos, para que ellos (los Apóstoles) puedan dedicarse más de lleno al “ministerio de la Palabra”.

La Palabra de Dios es recta y todas sus obras son leales, cantamos en el salmo de hoy. Por tanto, podemos confiar en Jesús cuando invita a no preocuparnos nunca, sino más bien a creer que sus Palabra y sus obras vienen del Padre.

Su Palabra continúa su obra en el mundo por medio de la Iglesia; hoy vemos sus comienzos en Jerusalén. Está destinada a difundirse poderosamente (cf. Hch 19,20), y a convertirse en semilla no corruptible por la cual cada corazón nazca de nuevo (cf. 1 P 1,23).

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter by Dr. John Bergsma.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter by Ms. Joan Watson.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com