The Ascension of Jesus Christ

Lord through your merciful love, grant us (your Church) the grace of detachment from the vanities of the world so that we may see clearly and devote ourselves to your Church and your heavenly kingdom.  ​

Luke’s gospel ends with the Ascension of Jesus Christ, and his second book, The Acts of The Apostles, begins with the Ascension of Jesus Christ. It is explained here, in the book of Acts, that Jesus spent forty days with His very own apostles. As Jesus appeared to this chosen few, he proved to them that He is the same Jesus that was crucified, buried and raised from the dead (Acts 1:1-5). Jesus did not have to prove Himself to anyone; however, He did it out of love and empathy, for he understands our human weaknesses.
 
As you can imagine, the apostles had many questions about what would or should happen next. The apostles’ main concern was with the restoration of the Israeli kingdom; however, Jesus turned their attention towards the true concern. Their new mission was to become witnesses to the truth that Jesus Christ was and always will be the one true messiah. This is a seemingly impossible task for such a small group of common-folk. The kingdom that was to be restored was not that of the Israeli kingdom, but the spiritual kingdom of heaven here on earth.

​The Catholic Church is that earthly kingdom in which the Holy Spirit guides with the grace of The Father. This special ‘grace’ of authority and leadership has been handed down, through history, to the ‘new’ apostles via The Sacrament of Holy Orders. This sacrament anoints these new apostles with the wisdom, courage and authority to, as Jesus said, “Go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”  This is not to say that only priests are charged with the mission of preaching the Gospel; no, we are all called to share the good news, however, priests are given special graces to lead Jesus’s Church in this effort of evangelism.
 
Our prayer in this mystery is as follows:
 
Lord through your merciful love, grant us the grace of detachment from the vanities of the world so that we may see clearly and devote ourselves to your church and your heavenly kingdom.  
 
God bless you all, 
The Catholic Rebuttal's Team