Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options
John R. DonahueMay 20, 2000

Today’s feast follows the Lukan picture of the exaltation of Jesus. Only Luke has a 40-day schema followed by Pentecost, and while the day is called the Ascension of the Lord, the focus of the readings is on the exaltation of Jesus, who commissions his followers to carry on his mission. The church, like the disciples, is not to stand looking at the sky but is to carry on Jesus’ mission to the ends of the earth.

This appears dramatically in the reading from Ephesians, which begins with the ringing exhortation to the seven unitiesone body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of allthat have motivated ecumenical movements from the beginning.

The ascension of Jesus is the reason that the exalted Jesus, like an enthroned monarch, can dispense gifts. These gifts are then the different offices and ministries given to the church, which Ephesians expresses in an important manner: And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, until we all attain the unity of faith.

In contrast to some earlier translations, the work of ministry is the mission of all the saints, and the function of the offices, prophets, etc. is to equip them for this work. This section of Ephesians should permeate all discussion of mission and ministry today.

The latest from america

June 29, 2025, Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul: This is the lesson of leadership among Christ’s disciples, to be ever at the task of sharing the Gospel, finding moments of grace even in hardship.
June 22, 2025, The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ: This Sunday’s readings call the faithful to reconsider the most holy body and blood of Christ in light of extreme divisions facing our country and world.
June 15, 2025, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity: No persons of faith exist in isolation, and every individual being lives in relationship to others.
June 8, 2025, Pentecost Sunday, Vigil Mass: The readings and prayers of this extended liturgy can inspire a heightened experience of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the faithful and rekindle a sense of the intensity of the Spirit.