Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord B

The speaker shares the Gospel from the solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord, emphasizing that resurrected life is life in the eternal embrace of the Heavenly Father. They encourage listeners to quiet their inner selves and yield to the Gospel, and they explain the practice of Lectio Divina. They then read and reflect on a passage from Mark's Gospel about Jesus commanding his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world and every creature. The speaker emphasizes the universal nature of the Gospel and the power it brings to liberate, heal, and protect. They share a personal experience of Jesus's accompanying presence in a difficult time. They invite listeners to meditate on the passage and intentionally internalize the word received. The speaker concludes by expressing joy in sharing the Gospel and wishing everyone a happy Easter. Greetings friends. What a joy to share the Gospel. Christ is risen. Truly He is risen. Happy Easter everybody. Here now we will share together the Gospel from the solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord. This feast and the Gospel is meant to draw us into the very heart of the mystery of Jesus' saving passing from death into life. Resurrected life is life in the eternal embrace of the Heavenly Father. We prepare ourselves by taking a moment to intentionally yield our spirits to the Gospel by quieting our inner selves. If you will take a deep breath slowly in and slowly out. Come Lord Jesus. Allow your Holy Spirit to bring your word to life in me. May I hear your voice Good Shepherd. The ancient prayer of Lectio Divina invites us first of all simply to read a passage from Scripture. In the reading we begin to become familiar with the word so as to open ourselves increasingly to what is beyond that word to the movement of the Holy Spirit carried on the words of the Gospel. On this solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord we read from Mark's Gospel chapter 16 verses 15 through 20. Jesus said to his disciples, go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. Whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe. In my name they will drive out demons. They will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands and if they drink any deadly thing it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover. So then the Lord Jesus after he spoke to them was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs. It seems to me that it is most helpful for us at this moment to ponder these few verses from Mark's Gospel through the lens of the mystery of the Ascension. That mystery is found of course in the heart of this passage. Then the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. The destiny of the resurrection is life in God in that eternal embrace of divine love. This is the mystery that Jesus now commands his disciples to proclaim to the whole world and to every creature. To the whole world notice. The gospel is universal. It is Catholic. Jesus is Lord of all and excludes no one. Note too, it is not to every human being we are sent but to every creature. Jesus's triumph over sin and death draws all creation to new life in God. In Jesus we move toward a new heaven and importantly a new earth. To everything we touch, to everywhere we go as disciples of Jesus we are meant to bring the grace of the gospel, the touch of blessing, healing, transformation. And as we go communicating gospel, good news by our words and deeds, Jesus, sovereign Lord, reigning now at the right hand of the Father, promises to accompany us in power and authority. The Christian life shared with others brings power, this scripture passage declares, to liberate creation from evil spirits, brings healing from disease and anguish. It cleanses from all that poisons life and offers protection from venomous snakes, real and figurative. I wonder, how have you witnessed Jesus's healing, liberating, cleansing, protecting presence, accompanying you as you have lived and shared the gospel in your life? Let's turn now again for a second time to read our gospel passage. Notice as we do what stands out to you. Be sensitive to that word or phrase or whatever it is that moves your imagination. In this word that moves within you, Jesus seeks to enthrone himself within you as sovereign Lord. We read again, Mark 16, 15 through 20. Jesus said to his disciples, go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. Whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe. In my name they will drive out demons. They will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover. So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs. This brings us now to the second step of Lectio Divina, which is, after reading, meditation. In meditating, we seek to surrender to the movement of the Spirit carried on that word. Become curious now about what is touching you in this passage and give yourself over to it. Chew on the word of God that it might bring you life. What is speaking to you at this moment? What speaks to me so powerfully is Jesus's solemn promise, signs will accompany those who believe. This is simply another way of saying that he, Jesus, will accompany those who believe. A few years ago, I encountered a truly traumatic event in my life. I was plunged by this event suddenly into deep confusion, darkness, anxiety. It was, you might even say, a poisonous time filled with deadly snakes and certainly the tormenting of evil spirits. At that very moment, and I testify to this now, Jesus accompanied me. In that darkest moment, suddenly, from where I do not know even now, a song that I had heard only two or three times before pushed up from deep within me. Over and over the refrain insisted on my singing it. The name of the song is Holy Spirit and the refrain goes like this, Holy Spirit, you are welcome here. Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere. Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for, to be overcome by your presence, Lord. Somehow, as I sang this refrain over and over again, or you might say as it sang itself from within me over and over again, there was light in the midst of my darkness, warmth, even though as I sat there, I was shivering in the cold. There was a sense of life as I was experiencing real death and I was touched, even as I was filled with fear, by a deep peace. As I ponder this gospel with you now, I am again brought into the presence of the Lord who accompanies us who believe in him, giving us signs of his saving presence. Friends, let me invite you again, stay with this gospel passage a bit longer. Recognize Jesus sitting as Lord at the right hand of the Father in the word that speaks most to you. Before leaving prayer, be sure to intentionally place the word you have received deep in your spirit. There the Lord will bring it growth throughout this week ahead. And friends, it is a joy to share the gospel with you. Happy Easter!