Pause for Prayer: Ascension Thursday

                    The Ascension of Christ by Dali  

The perspective of Dali's Ascension never fails to draw me in!  The earthy feet of the Risen Jesus ascending into heaven to reign for ever at the Father's right hand in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

 

It's not Ascension Thursday everywhere!

Is it Ascension Thursday where you live? In some parts of the Catholic world, the observance of the Ascension has been transferred to this coming Sunday. Or perhaps your local church will celebrate the Ascension today. The answer can be found here.

You can find the scriptures for Ascension day here. This Preface prayer for the Ascension offers a brief theological summary of what the Church celebrates on this 40th day after Easter. The theology is in the verbs!

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks and praise. Today the Lord Jesus, the king of glory, the conqueror of sin and death, ascended to heaven while the angels sang his praises.

Christ, the mediator between God and humankind, judge of the world and Lord of all, has passed beyond our sight, not to abandon us but to be our hope. Christ is the beginning, the head of the Church; where he has gone, we hope to follow.

The joy of the resurrection and ascension renews the whole world, while the choirs of heaven sing for ever to your glory: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Ascension is so much more than just an exit line after the Resurrection! The Ascension of the Lord, home to his Father in heaven, fulfills Jesus' mission and brings it to completion. 

A Prayer for Ascension Thursday

Just 40 days after Easter, Lord:
    you brought your friends together,
        to say goodbye, to bid them all farewell...

Taking leave was bittersweet:
    the memory of what had been,
        the promise of what was yet to be;
    the pledge that on a day to come
        we'd all be one again, with you...

In your life, Lord, there'd been

    comings and goings, meeting and knowing;

    sorrow and sadness, miracles and joy;

    deserts and dinners, feasting and fasting;

    your preaching, parables, words of wisdom;

    comfort and conflict, judgment and suffering;

    surrender and sacrifice, dying and rising

        - and hope born again - 

    with the promise for all 

        of life without end...

You left your friends, Lord, 

    but didn't abandon them:
you promised your Spirit, the Spirit of truth

    to lead and guide, console and comfort;

to show us the path we're called to walk,

    the way that leads us home to you 

and to that day, still yet to come,

    when all will be one, forever in peace,

    when all will be one, again, in you... 

Amen.

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