HOMILY ASCENSION SUNDAY

Today’s three readings have been assigned for the celebration and commemoration of the Ascension of Jesus. The Ascension is that special time in Jesus’ life when after his crucifixion he was resurrected and spent time with his apostles and disciples to prepare them for his final earthly departure or his Ascension to heaven. Jesus’ basic theme and message is about what he asks them to do and what they can expect to happen next.

 

Let’s look at these readings from the perspective of Head, Heart and Hands.

 

The first reading from Acts, specifically tells us the following points:

1. The resurrected Jesus appears to them;
2. Jesus tells them to ready for them to be baptized with the Holy Spirit;
3. Jesus tells them to be witnesses to Jew and Gentile in the ends of the earth;
4. Angels tell them that Jesus will return!

So we see that Jesus “shows up”, and lets them know：

1. For Hands: the disciples are to be witnesses to the world;
2. For Head, they will be baptized by the Holy Spirit;
3. For Heart, that Jesus will return!

 

In Psalm 47 let’s look at this from a Head, Heart and hands perspective.

• Head: we know that God is king of all the earth and on the throne.
• Heart: we feel gladness, awe, and joy.
• Hands: We shout, clap, and sing !

 

So even in the Psalm 47 we can see how our entire human identity is acknowledged.

 

The second reading from Hebrews ends with this references to head, heart and hands approach to life:

Let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.

Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope,

for he who made the promise is trustworthy.'

 

The Gospel of Luke verses can be summarized as follows:

• From a head perspective, Jesus says: “behold I am sending the promise of my Father.”
• From a heart perspective, Jesus says: “Christ would suffer…”
• From a hands perspective, Jesus “raised his hand and blessed them.”

 

So, as we now live here in the bay area as part of the Chinese Catholic Community, take the coming week to reflect on how we can prepare for the commemoration of the arrival of the Holy Spirit or PENTECOST next Sunday.

 

• Reflect on how this knowledge of our Christian history of Jesus’ message to all of us has played out in each of our lives.
• Reflect on how Joy has been part of your faith journey.
• Reflect on what personal ministry you have practiced to witness to your faith in the Trinity.

 

So, brothers and sisters that is the wonderful news of Ascension Sunday !

Alleluia Alleluia !

Fr. Fong

(中文翻譯.原文以英文為準)

耶穌升天主日講道

今天的三篇讀經是為慶祝和紀念耶穌升天而簡選的。升天是耶穌生命中的特殊時刻，他在被釘十字架後復活並與宗徒和門徒共度時光，為他最後的離開塵世或升天做準備。耶穌的基本主題和信息是關於他要求他們做什麼以及他們接下來會發生什麼。

讓我們從頭、心和手的角度來看這些讀經。

宗徒大事錄讀經一，特別告訴我們以下幾點：

1. 復活的耶穌向他們顯現；
2. 耶穌告訴他們準備好接受聖神的洗禮；
3. 耶穌告訴他們在地極為猶太人和外邦人作見證；
4. 天使告訴他們耶穌會再來！

所以我們看到耶穌“出現”，並讓他們知道：

1. 關於手，門徒要成為世界的見證人；
2. 對於頭，他們將接受聖神的洗禮；
3. 為了心，耶穌會回來！

在聖詠 47篇 中，讓我們從頭、心和手的角度來看這一點。 阿助路亞, 阿肋路亞！

• 頭：我們知道上主是全地極的君王，坐在寶座上。
• 心：我們感到高興、敬畏和喜悅。
• 手：我們大聲喊、拍、唱！

因此，即使在聖詠47 篇中，我們也可以看到我們的整個人類身份是如何得到承認的。

希伯來人書讀經二 以頭、心和手的方式結束生活：

”所以我們該洗淨心靈，清除良心的邪惡，用清水洗滌身體，而後懷着真誠的心，和完備的信德去接近天主。我們也要堅持所明認的望德，毫不動搖，因為向我們許諾的那一位是信實可靠的。

路加福音的經文可以概括如下：

• 從頭的角度來看，耶穌說：“看哪，我要把我父所恩許的，遣發到你們身上。”
• 從心的角度來看，耶穌說：“基督會受苦…”
• 從手的角度來看，耶穌“舉手祝福了他們”。

因此，既然我們現在作為灣區華人天主教團體的一部分，請花下一周的時間思考我們如何為下週日的聖神降臨或稱五旬節主日的來臨做準備。

• 想一想我們如何對耶穌向我們傳達天主的聖言在我們每個人的生活中發揮作用。
• 反思喜悅是如何成為你信仰之旅的一部分。
• 回想一下你為見證你對三位一體的信仰所做的個人事工。

所以，兄弟姐妹們，這是耶穌升天主日的好消息！

阿助路亞, 阿肋路亞！