Transfer of Authority: Reflections on the Readings for the Ascension of the Lord and the Seventh Sunday of Easter (Cycle A)

If you haven’t already read the readings you can access them here.

Ascension                                                      Seventh Sunday of Easter
Acts 1:1-11                                                    Acts 1:12-14
Psalm 47                                                        Psalm 27
Ephesians 1:17-23                                          1 Peter 4:13-16
Matthew 28:16-20                                          John 17:1-11a

The readings for both the Ascension of the Lord and the Seventh Sunday of Easter although different have a similar theme. In most dioceses in the U.S., the feast of the Ascension is celebrated on what would be the Seventh Sunday of Easter using the readings for that solemnity which technically occurs on the preceding Thursday. In view of the similarities and overlap I will address both sets of readings together.

The first reading for both days comes from the beginning of the book, Acts of the Apostles and, in fact are consecutive passages. In the reading for the feast of the Ascension Luke (author of Acts) summarizes for Theophilus, to whom his gospel is also addressed, that he had covered all of the teachings of Jesus in that first gospel. He describes the event of Jesus’ Ascension into heaven “being lifted up, and a cloud took Him from sight.”

Jesus had just told them two important things. First He gave them the authority, which the Father had given Him, to be His witness to His teachings “to the ends of the earth.” Second, He impressed upon that they needed to stay in Jerusalem “to wait for the promise of the Father ... the Holy Spirit.” Recall that in John’s gospel Jesus told them at the Last Supper that after His return to the Father He would send another advocate to remain with them, the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13). Here Jesus tells them that, when the Spirit comes upon them, they will receive power to wield the authority He has bestowed upon them.

The angels who appear after Jesus’ return to the Father also announce the second coming, “This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

The first reading for the Seventh Sunday of Easter tells us that, after Jesus’ Ascension, the apostles returned Jerusalem, to the upper room, to await the promised descent of the Spirit, joined by the other disciples, including Mary, the Mother of Jesus. This is significant because it shows that Mary, Our Blessed Mother, was an integral part of the early Church community.

The psalm reading for the Ascension appropriately says, “God mounts His throne to shouts of joy.” And, as such, the people sing His praises and celebrate. In the same way we celebrate Jesus’ return to the Father where He takes His place on the throne.

In the psalm for the Seventh Sunday of Easter we still celebrate but in this case we express our faith in the future of dwelling in the house of the Lord, all the days of our lives. In these two psalm readings, as with the consecutive selections from Acts, we can begin to see the rewards of following Jesus’ teachings, as He commissioned them to do.

The second reading for Ascension follows this theme, speaking of the Resurrection and Jesus’ position at the right hand of God as well as the authority Jesus has over His body, the Church. In fact, Jesus has been made the head over ALL things, including, specifically, the Church. Furthermore, Paul indicates that we who believe (and follow His teaching) will also enjoy the riches of His glory.

The excerpt from the first letter of Peter for the 7th Sunday of Easter also talks of us joining with Jesus in His glory, but at the expense of sharing in the suffering of Christ. In fact, Peter says that we should rejoice when we are called upon to suffer for the name of Christ, for the Spirit of Glory and of God rests upon us then. “But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the name.”

The gospel reading from Matthew (Ascension) contains the great commission. First, Matthew notes that they worshipped Him but still doubted. Perhaps this relates to their question about restoring the kingdom, to which Jesus replied only the Father knows. Furthermore, this event precedes Pentecost when they will receive the power of the Holy Spirit. At this time they are still thinking of a different, more earthly power, not understanding the fullness of Jesus’ message. Nevertheless, Jesus then reiterates the authority given Him by the Father and then delegates it to them saying, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” In Luke’s telling Jesus reminds them that He will be sending them the Spirit, another advocate. As John’s gospel notes, the Spirit will dwell within them (John 14:17), thus fulfilling Jesus’ promise to be with them “always, until the end of the age.”

In the excerpt from John’s gospel for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, Jesus is praying to the Father with the apostles present at the Last Supper. Here Jesus again speaks of being the recipient of authority from the Father and speaks to the transfer of that authority to them: “Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.” And, significantly, in relation to the great commission, Jesus notes that the apostles accepted those words, and therefore the great commission, the priesthood, and the responsibilities that go with them. We also declare that we accept Jesus’ words when we are baptized, confirmed, and whenever we say the Creed at Mass. This also means we accept the responsibility to continue learning about Jesus and His teachings (our faith).

Jesus further prays for the apostles to be strengthened by the Father’s grace because, while Jesus is leaving the world, the apostles remain in the world which is in the hands of the evil one.

That commission, to teach the gospel, extends to all baptized in Christ. I spent three years as an instructor at a Navy school and have been involved in various aspects of catechesis for many years. In order to teach a subject you must become well versed in it. Unfortunately, many of us fail in our effort to evangelize because we haven’t made the effort to truly learn our faith. Consequently we become easy targets for the world and its erroneous way of life, to the point that we often don’t even recognize when our own shepherds, the modern pharisees, engage in modernism and false teaching. They do this in an effort to “change attitudes” in order that they can change doctrine. In this I am reminded of a saying by Saint Augustine: “You ought to say plainly that you do not believe in the Gospel of Christ. For to believe what you please, is to believe yourselves, and not the Gospel.” St. Augustine, Contra Faustum.