'They looked up to heaven because they looked to Jesus Christ, the Crucified and Risen One.' Sunday Reflections, The Ascension, Year C

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The Ascension of Christ
Rembrandt [Web Gallery of Art]

Ascension, Year C

The Ascension is celebrated on Ascension Thursday, 26 May, in England & Wales, Scotland. In the USA it is celebrated on Ascension Thursday in the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Omaha, Philadelphia, elsewhere on Sunday 29 May. In all of these areas Ascension Thursday is a Holyday of Obligation.

The Ascension is observed on Sunday, 29 May, in Aotearoa-New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Philippines.

 

Readings, (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)

Readings, (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)

Gospel, Luke 24:46-53 (English Standard Version Anglicised: India)  

Jesus said to his disciples:

 “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Léachtaí i nGaeilge


St John Paul II Memorial, Błonia Park, Krakow
[Wikipedia; photo]

Here is part of the homily Pope Benedict XVI gave in Błonia Park, Kraków, Poland, on Sunday 28 May 2006, the Solemnity of the Ascension. The emphases are added. 

'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven?' (Acts 1:11).

Brothers and Sisters, today in Błonie Park in Kraków we hear once again this question from the Acts of the Apostles. This time it is directed to all of us: 'Why do you stand looking up to heaven?' The answer to this question involves the fundamental truth about the life and destiny of every man and woman.


Continue at Bangor to Bobbio.

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