Collect Series
Solemnity of the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven
COLLECT
Gladden
us with holy joys, almighty God,
and
make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving,
for
the Ascension of Christ Your Son is our exaltation,
and,
where the head has gone before in glory,
the
Body is called to follow in hope.
Through
our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son,
Who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
One
God for ever and ever.
REFLECTION
QUESTIONS
1. What does the Ascension of Christ into
Heaven mean to me?
2. What does holy joys mean to me and how
do I express it in my life?
3. Ponder my attitudes and thoughts about my
own death in the light of ‘the body (insert my name) is called to follow in
hope?
4. What areas of my life still
need to follow Him into the new creation?
5. How will I go out to all the world and
tell the good news in my life this coming week?
6. How will I prepare for the Solemnity of
Pentecost this coming week?
GOSPEL REFLECTION
In the Gospel of Gospel of Matthew
28:16–20, we stand with the disciples on the mountain in Galilee as they
encounter the risen Christ for the final time in Matthew’s Gospel. It is a
passage filled with majesty, mission, and deep humanity.
Matthew tells us:
“When they saw him they worshipped him;
but some hesitated.”
Some translations render the final word
as “doubted,” while others translate it as “hesitated.” Both capture part of
the meaning of the original Greek, but “hesitated” often gives a richer sense
of what is happening spiritually in this moment.
The disciples are not necessarily
rejecting Jesus or refusing belief. Rather, they seem overwhelmed by the
enormity of what they are witnessing. They stand before the risen Christ in
worship, yet at the same time struggle to fully take in the reality before
them. Their faith is mingled with awe, uncertainty, and trembling.
That detail is profoundly consoling
because it reveals something deeply human about discipleship. Faith is not
always instant clarity or emotional certainty. Sometimes faith contains
hesitation. Sometimes we stand before God wanting to believe fully, yet still
feeling overwhelmed, fearful, or unsure how to move forward.
It is interesting to note that unlike
the transfiguration which occurred on Mount Tabor, the Ascension occurred on
the Mount of Olives. If we recall Jesus in the
garden there, He asks for the cup to be taken away, but not my will, but
yours be done.
When we listen to this gospel on the Asension, Jesus has accomplished the
mission. He remained faithful and is now ready to return to His Father.
Throughout Scripture, people often
respond this way when confronted by the presence of God. Moses hesitates before
the burning bush. Isaiah becomes painfully aware of his unworthiness in the
temple vision. Peter falls before Jesus after the miraculous catch of fish.
Divine encounters have a way of exposing both worship and trembling at the same
time.
What is striking in this Gospel is that
Jesus does not rebuke the disciples for their hesitation. He does not withdraw
the mission until they become perfect in faith. Instead, He draws near and
entrusts them with the future of the Gospel.
Jesus begins with a declaration of
authority:
“All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me.”
The risen Christ now speaks not simply
as teacher, but as Lord of heaven and earth. The mission that follows rests not
on human strength or confidence, but on His authority.
Then comes the great commission:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations.”
Jesus does not simply tell the disciples
to gather followers or spread information. He calls them to make disciples —
people whose lives are gradually shaped by relationship with Him. The Gospel is
not merely something to know intellectually; it is something to live.
The mission extends to “all nations,”
revealing the universal scope of God’s love. The message of Christ is not
confined to one people or culture. Every human person is invited into communion
with God.
Jesus then commands them to baptize:
“in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Here we hear one of the clearest
Trinitarian formulas in Scripture. Through baptism, believers are drawn into
the life of the Trinity itself. Christianity is ultimately about relationship —
being immersed into the love and life of God.
Discipleship involves more than baptism
alone. Jesus continues:
“teaching them to obey everything that I
have commanded you.”
Faith must take shape in daily living:
mercy, forgiveness, truthfulness, prayer, compassion, perseverance, humility,
and love. The Christian life is a lifelong process of being formed by Christ.
Finally comes the promise that carries
the entire mission:
“And remember, I am with you always, to
the end of the age.”
Matthew’s Gospel began with the title
Emmanuel — “God with us.” It ends with the same assurance. Jesus ascends, yet
He remains present with His people.
This promise becomes even more beautiful
when we remember the disciples’ hesitation. Christ promises His presence not
only to the fearless and certain, but also to those whose faith is still
trembling and growing.
That is perhaps the heart of this Gospel
passage. The disciples worshipped, yet some hesitated. Still, Jesus called
them. Still, Jesus entrusted them with His mission. Still, Jesus promised to
remain with them always.
Perhaps that gives hope to us as well.
We may sometimes stand between faith and hesitation, between confidence and
uncertainty. Yet Christ continues to call ordinary people, imperfect people,
hesitant people — and to walk with them every step of the way.
What time did Jesus Ascend to Heaven?
Many people have wondered this question.
However, the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles do not give a clock time for
the Ascension of Jesus.
The main account is in the Acts of the
Apostles, where Saint Luke says that Jesus appeared to the disciples over a
period of forty days after the Resurrection and then was “lifted up” before
them (Acts 1:1–11). The event is described theologically and symbolically
rather than with chronological detail.
Christian tradition generally places the
Ascension on the fortieth day after Easter — celebrated as the Ascension Day —
but there is no preserved tradition saying it happened at 9 am, noon, sunset,
or any other exact hour.
Some artists and devotional writers
imagine it happening during daylight because the disciples clearly witnessed it
outdoors on the Mount of Olives, but that is interpretation rather than stated
fact from the Scriptures itself.
The Gospel of Gospel of Matthew 28:16–20
brings us to one of the most important moments in the whole of Scripture: the
risen Jesus gathers His disciples on the mountain in Galilee and entrusts them
with the mission of continuing His work in the world.
At first glance, the passage seems
triumphant and clear. Jesus has risen. The disciples meet Him. He commissions
them. But Matthew includes one small and deeply human line:
“When they saw him they worshipped him;
but some doubted.”
That single sentence is profoundly
consoling. Even standing before the risen Christ, some still struggled. Faith
was not instant perfection. The disciples were still learning how to trust what
they could hardly comprehend. Matthew does not hide their weakness because
discipleship has never depended on flawless certainty. It depends on continuing
to come toward Christ, even when our hearts tremble.
The setting matters too. Jesus calls
them to a mountain. In Matthew’s Gospel, mountains are places of revelation:
the Sermon on the Mount, the Transfiguration, moments where heaven and earth
seem to meet. Now, on this final mountain, Jesus reveals not simply teaching,
but mission. The disciples are no longer only followers; they are now sent.
Jesus begins with authority:
“All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me.”
This is not the language of domination
but of divine sovereignty. The crucified and risen Christ now reigns over all
creation. The One who sends the disciples is not merely a wise teacher from
history. He is Lord of heaven and earth. The mission of the Church rests not on
human strength, popularity, or success, but on the authority of Christ Himself.
Then comes the great commission:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations.”
Notice that Jesus does not say simply
“gather followers” or “win arguments.” He says: make disciples. A disciple is
someone who learns to live in relationship with Christ, someone gradually
shaped by His mind, His mercy, His truth, and His love. Christianity is not
merely information about Jesus; it is transformation through Him.
The command reaches “all nations.”
Matthew’s Gospel began with a genealogy rooted in Israel, but it ends with the
horizon widened to the whole world. The Gospel is not confined to one people,
culture, language, or background. The heart of God is universal. Every human
person is invited into communion with Him.
Jesus then speaks of baptism:
“baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Here we hear one of the clearest
Trinitarian formulas in Scripture. The Christian life begins by being drawn
into the very life of God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism is not simply
a ceremony or symbolic welcome; it is participation in divine life. We are
immersed into relationship with the living God.
But the mission does not end at baptism.
Jesus continues:
“teaching them to obey everything that I
have commanded you.”
Christian faith is not reduced to
inspiration or emotion. It involves formation, conversion, and daily obedience.
The disciple learns slowly how to live the Gospel in ordinary life:
forgiveness, mercy, justice, humility, prayer, truthfulness, compassion,
perseverance. The Christian journey is lifelong.
Finally comes one of the most beautiful
promises in the Gospel:
“And remember, I am with you always, to
the end of the age.”
Matthew’s Gospel began with the title
Emmanuel — “God with us.” It now ends with the same truth. Jesus ascends, yet
He does not abandon His people. His presence continues in the Church, in
Scripture, in the Eucharist, in prayer, and in the quiet moments where grace
sustains us.
Collect Series
Solemnity of the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven
COLLECT
Gladden
us with holy joys, almighty God,
and
make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving,
for
the Ascension of Christ Your Son is our exaltation,
and,
where the head has gone before in glory,
the
Body is called to follow in hope.
Through
our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son,
Who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
One
God for ever and ever.
REFLECTION
QUESTIONS
1. What does the Ascension of Christ into
Heaven mean to me?
2. What does holy joys mean to me and how
do I express it in my life?
3. Ponder my attitudes and thoughts about my
own death in the light of ‘the body (insert my name) is called to follow in
hope?
4. What areas of my life still
need to follow Him into the new creation?
5. How will I go out to all the world and
tell the good news in my life this coming week?
6. How will I prepare for the Solemnity of
Pentecost this coming week?
GOSPEL REFLECTION
In the Gospel of Gospel of Matthew
28:16–20, we stand with the disciples on the mountain in Galilee as they
encounter the risen Christ for the final time in Matthew’s Gospel. It is a
passage filled with majesty, mission, and deep humanity.
Matthew tells us:
“When they saw him they worshipped him;
but some hesitated.”
Some translations render the final word
as “doubted,” while others translate it as “hesitated.” Both capture part of
the meaning of the original Greek, but “hesitated” often gives a richer sense
of what is happening spiritually in this moment.
The disciples are not necessarily
rejecting Jesus or refusing belief. Rather, they seem overwhelmed by the
enormity of what they are witnessing. They stand before the risen Christ in
worship, yet at the same time struggle to fully take in the reality before
them. Their faith is mingled with awe, uncertainty, and trembling.
That detail is profoundly consoling
because it reveals something deeply human about discipleship. Faith is not
always instant clarity or emotional certainty. Sometimes faith contains
hesitation. Sometimes we stand before God wanting to believe fully, yet still
feeling overwhelmed, fearful, or unsure how to move forward.
It is interesting to note that unlike
the transfiguration which occurred on Mount Tabor, the Ascension occurred on
the Mount of Olives. If we recall Jesus in the
garden there, He asks for the cup to be taken away, but not my will, but
yours be done.
When we listen to this gospel on the Asension, Jesus has accomplished the
mission. He remained faithful and is now ready to return to His Father.
Throughout Scripture, people often
respond this way when confronted by the presence of God. Moses hesitates before
the burning bush. Isaiah becomes painfully aware of his unworthiness in the
temple vision. Peter falls before Jesus after the miraculous catch of fish.
Divine encounters have a way of exposing both worship and trembling at the same
time.
What is striking in this Gospel is that
Jesus does not rebuke the disciples for their hesitation. He does not withdraw
the mission until they become perfect in faith. Instead, He draws near and
entrusts them with the future of the Gospel.
Jesus begins with a declaration of
authority:
“All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me.”
The risen Christ now speaks not simply
as teacher, but as Lord of heaven and earth. The mission that follows rests not
on human strength or confidence, but on His authority.
Then comes the great commission:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations.”
Jesus does not simply tell the disciples
to gather followers or spread information. He calls them to make disciples —
people whose lives are gradually shaped by relationship with Him. The Gospel is
not merely something to know intellectually; it is something to live.
The mission extends to “all nations,”
revealing the universal scope of God’s love. The message of Christ is not
confined to one people or culture. Every human person is invited into communion
with God.
Jesus then commands them to baptize:
“in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Here we hear one of the clearest
Trinitarian formulas in Scripture. Through baptism, believers are drawn into
the life of the Trinity itself. Christianity is ultimately about relationship —
being immersed into the love and life of God.
Discipleship involves more than baptism
alone. Jesus continues:
“teaching them to obey everything that I
have commanded you.”
Faith must take shape in daily living:
mercy, forgiveness, truthfulness, prayer, compassion, perseverance, humility,
and love. The Christian life is a lifelong process of being formed by Christ.
Finally comes the promise that carries
the entire mission:
“And remember, I am with you always, to
the end of the age.”
Matthew’s Gospel began with the title
Emmanuel — “God with us.” It ends with the same assurance. Jesus ascends, yet
He remains present with His people.
This promise becomes even more beautiful
when we remember the disciples’ hesitation. Christ promises His presence not
only to the fearless and certain, but also to those whose faith is still
trembling and growing.
That is perhaps the heart of this Gospel
passage. The disciples worshipped, yet some hesitated. Still, Jesus called
them. Still, Jesus entrusted them with His mission. Still, Jesus promised to
remain with them always.
Perhaps that gives hope to us as well.
We may sometimes stand between faith and hesitation, between confidence and
uncertainty. Yet Christ continues to call ordinary people, imperfect people,
hesitant people — and to walk with them every step of the way.
What time did Jesus Ascend to Heaven?
Many people have wondered this question.
However, the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles do not give a clock time for
the Ascension of Jesus.
The main account is in the Acts of the
Apostles, where Saint Luke says that Jesus appeared to the disciples over a
period of forty days after the Resurrection and then was “lifted up” before
them (Acts 1:1–11). The event is described theologically and symbolically
rather than with chronological detail.
Christian tradition generally places the
Ascension on the fortieth day after Easter — celebrated as the Ascension Day —
but there is no preserved tradition saying it happened at 9 am, noon, sunset,
or any other exact hour.
Some artists and devotional writers
imagine it happening during daylight because the disciples clearly witnessed it
outdoors on the Mount of Olives, but that is interpretation rather than stated
fact from the Scriptures itself.
The Gospel of Gospel of Matthew 28:16–20
brings us to one of the most important moments in the whole of Scripture: the
risen Jesus gathers His disciples on the mountain in Galilee and entrusts them
with the mission of continuing His work in the world.
At first glance, the passage seems
triumphant and clear. Jesus has risen. The disciples meet Him. He commissions
them. But Matthew includes one small and deeply human line:
“When they saw him they worshipped him;
but some doubted.”
That single sentence is profoundly
consoling. Even standing before the risen Christ, some still struggled. Faith
was not instant perfection. The disciples were still learning how to trust what
they could hardly comprehend. Matthew does not hide their weakness because
discipleship has never depended on flawless certainty. It depends on continuing
to come toward Christ, even when our hearts tremble.
The setting matters too. Jesus calls
them to a mountain. In Matthew’s Gospel, mountains are places of revelation:
the Sermon on the Mount, the Transfiguration, moments where heaven and earth
seem to meet. Now, on this final mountain, Jesus reveals not simply teaching,
but mission. The disciples are no longer only followers; they are now sent.
Jesus begins with authority:
“All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me.”
This is not the language of domination
but of divine sovereignty. The crucified and risen Christ now reigns over all
creation. The One who sends the disciples is not merely a wise teacher from
history. He is Lord of heaven and earth. The mission of the Church rests not on
human strength, popularity, or success, but on the authority of Christ Himself.
Then comes the great commission:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations.”
Notice that Jesus does not say simply
“gather followers” or “win arguments.” He says: make disciples. A disciple is
someone who learns to live in relationship with Christ, someone gradually
shaped by His mind, His mercy, His truth, and His love. Christianity is not
merely information about Jesus; it is transformation through Him.
The command reaches “all nations.”
Matthew’s Gospel began with a genealogy rooted in Israel, but it ends with the
horizon widened to the whole world. The Gospel is not confined to one people,
culture, language, or background. The heart of God is universal. Every human
person is invited into communion with Him.
Jesus then speaks of baptism:
“baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Here we hear one of the clearest
Trinitarian formulas in Scripture. The Christian life begins by being drawn
into the very life of God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism is not simply
a ceremony or symbolic welcome; it is participation in divine life. We are
immersed into relationship with the living God.
But the mission does not end at baptism.
Jesus continues:
“teaching them to obey everything that I
have commanded you.”
Christian faith is not reduced to
inspiration or emotion. It involves formation, conversion, and daily obedience.
The disciple learns slowly how to live the Gospel in ordinary life:
forgiveness, mercy, justice, humility, prayer, truthfulness, compassion,
perseverance. The Christian journey is lifelong.
Finally comes one of the most beautiful
promises in the Gospel:
“And remember, I am with you always, to
the end of the age.”
Matthew’s Gospel began with the title
Emmanuel — “God with us.” It now ends with the same truth. Jesus ascends, yet
He does not abandon His people. His presence continues in the Church, in
Scripture, in the Eucharist, in prayer, and in the quiet moments where grace
sustains us.
This promise is especially important
because the mission can feel overwhelming. The disciples were few, imperfect,
uncertain, and fragile. Yet Christ entrusted the Gospel to them anyway. The
power of the mission comes not from the strength of the disciples but from the
abiding presence of Christ.
For us today, this Gospel asks several
questions:
- Do we
truly believe Christ is still with His Church?
- Are we
willing to be disciples, not merely admirers?
- Do we
allow the Gospel to shape the way we live and speak?
- Are we
prepared to witness to Christ in ordinary daily life?
Many people imagine mission as something
dramatic or public. But often the Great Commission begins quietly: a word of
encouragement, an act of mercy, faithful prayer, patience with another person,
reverence in worship, integrity in suffering, or simply living with hope in a
weary world.
The disciples stood before the risen
Lord with both worship and doubt in their hearts. Yet Jesus still entrusted
them with His mission. That should give great hope to every one of us. Christ
does not wait for perfect people before calling them. He calls ordinary people
and promises to remain with them always.
NB In some dioceses the Ascension remains on a Thursday, whereas in other parts of the world, the Solemnity of the Ascension has been moved to a Sunday so that all may worship .
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