7 min
Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Thursday, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into Heaven La Porta | Renungan Harian Katolik - Daily Meditation according to Catholic Church liturgy
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- Christianity
Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in Labuan Bajo, Diocese of Ruteng, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 1: 1-11; Rs psalm 46: 2-3.6-7.8-9; Ephessians 1: 17-23; Mark 16: 15-20
THE ASCENSION OF JESUS INTO HEAVEN
Our meditation today has the theme: The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. Did Jesus really ascend into Heaven? Is heaven up there? Where did the writer of the Acts of the Apostles get the description of ascending to heaven? These are some examples of question that are frequently asked in our life as Christians. The image of Jesus’ Ascension is not fabricated, but had been used in the Old Testament. The Book of Genesis says that the man of God Henock was taken up to heaven (Gen. 5,24). The prophet Elijah "was taken" up to heaven (2Kings 2,9-15). They tell us a very interesting story about this event.
The description in the scriptures shows what our senses cannot normally perceive, namely the entry of Jesus into the glory of the Father in heaven. His life now is completely different from ours. He cannot be seen and touched, cannot be physically marked because he already belongs to God's world. It can only be grasped by our faith and the only way to talk about is through images.
This description of ascension to heaven has to do with the apostles looking up to heaven at the time Jesus ascended to heaven. The manner of people looking up as a way of seeing was indeed used by the writer of the Acts of the Apostles. Heaven was indeed up there, marked by the presence of clouds as a meaningful symbol commonly found in the Old Testament, to indicate the presence of God in certain places (Exodus 13,22). Jesus was going upward, and it is at that same direction that we will lead our journey after this world.
During the 40 days between the resurrection and His ascension into Heaven, Jesus Christ had spent His time providing the spiritual legacies properly needed by His chosen people. Generally a period of 40 days was meant as the time for waiting and a period of preparation for the apostles and disciples of the Lord. They were the first disciples of Jesus of Nazareth and had the full right to speak in Jesus’ name because they had received all of His messages. They had to start from Jerusalem after receiving the Spirit promised by Jesus Himself.
After witnessing the Ascension of Jesus, the apostles took on worldwide evangelizing assignments. They were given the power of Jesus Himself. This task is also given to us members of the Church to make Christ present in the world really incarnated and felt. We feel comfortable and confident in this assignment because Jesus gave us the assurance: "I will always be with you until the end of time". So Jesus ascended into heaven does not mean He went far away from us, but He went so that His Spirit would have His turn to work and be with us in this world.
Let's pray. In the name of the Father ... Our most loving Jesus, strengthen our faith in our path that eventually destined in heaven and may our life in this world be always filled with Your Holy Spirit. Glory to the Father ... In the name of the Father ...
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/media-la-porta/message
Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in Labuan Bajo, Diocese of Ruteng, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 1: 1-11; Rs psalm 46: 2-3.6-7.8-9; Ephessians 1: 17-23; Mark 16: 15-20
THE ASCENSION OF JESUS INTO HEAVEN
Our meditation today has the theme: The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. Did Jesus really ascend into Heaven? Is heaven up there? Where did the writer of the Acts of the Apostles get the description of ascending to heaven? These are some examples of question that are frequently asked in our life as Christians. The image of Jesus’ Ascension is not fabricated, but had been used in the Old Testament. The Book of Genesis says that the man of God Henock was taken up to heaven (Gen. 5,24). The prophet Elijah "was taken" up to heaven (2Kings 2,9-15). They tell us a very interesting story about this event.
The description in the scriptures shows what our senses cannot normally perceive, namely the entry of Jesus into the glory of the Father in heaven. His life now is completely different from ours. He cannot be seen and touched, cannot be physically marked because he already belongs to God's world. It can only be grasped by our faith and the only way to talk about is through images.
This description of ascension to heaven has to do with the apostles looking up to heaven at the time Jesus ascended to heaven. The manner of people looking up as a way of seeing was indeed used by the writer of the Acts of the Apostles. Heaven was indeed up there, marked by the presence of clouds as a meaningful symbol commonly found in the Old Testament, to indicate the presence of God in certain places (Exodus 13,22). Jesus was going upward, and it is at that same direction that we will lead our journey after this world.
During the 40 days between the resurrection and His ascension into Heaven, Jesus Christ had spent His time providing the spiritual legacies properly needed by His chosen people. Generally a period of 40 days was meant as the time for waiting and a period of preparation for the apostles and disciples of the Lord. They were the first disciples of Jesus of Nazareth and had the full right to speak in Jesus’ name because they had received all of His messages. They had to start from Jerusalem after receiving the Spirit promised by Jesus Himself.
After witnessing the Ascension of Jesus, the apostles took on worldwide evangelizing assignments. They were given the power of Jesus Himself. This task is also given to us members of the Church to make Christ present in the world really incarnated and felt. We feel comfortable and confident in this assignment because Jesus gave us the assurance: "I will always be with you until the end of time". So Jesus ascended into heaven does not mean He went far away from us, but He went so that His Spirit would have His turn to work and be with us in this world.
Let's pray. In the name of the Father ... Our most loving Jesus, strengthen our faith in our path that eventually destined in heaven and may our life in this world be always filled with Your Holy Spirit. Glory to the Father ... In the name of the Father ...
---
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/media-la-porta/message
7 min