PASSING THE BATON
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
We cannot gather as usual for the Eucharist. But we are conscious that Christ is present not only in the Blessed Sacrament but also in the Scriptures and in our hearts. Even when we are on our own, we remain part of the Body of Christ.
Place lighted candles, a crucifix, and the Bible on a covered table. These remind us of the sacredness of our time of prayer and could help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.
You may sing or play an appropriate hymn. For instance:
The Sign of the Cross
Greeting and Introductory Words
L: The Lord invites us to the table of his Word: let us bless him for his goodness.
A: Blessed be God forever.
L: Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension. We celebrate Jesus passing the baton of his ministry to his disciples and to us… with the promise of the Spirit. We pray, like the disciples did in the Upper Room, for the gift of the Spirit to strengthen us carry on the mission of Jesus.
Today is World Communications Day. We pray that we may communicate the Good News of God’s love for all people.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have failed in our witnessing mission, we ask the Lord to pardon us.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Jesus Christ, you instructed your disciples through the Spirit.
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you commission us to proclaim the gospel:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
Gloria
Opening Prayer
L: God of power and might,
in the mystery of the ascension
you have raised up and glorified your Son.
Strengthen your Church and her mission
so that when Christ returns in glory
all nations may be gathered into the kingdom,
where he lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings
The readings are those assigned for the day in the Lectionary.
Preferably use a Bible/ Lectionary for reading.
Reading 1 Acts 1:1-11
Psalm Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
Response God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or: Alleluia.
Reading 2 Ephesians 1:17-23 or 4:1-13
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
Go and teach all nations, says the Lord;
I am with you always, until the end of the world.
Gospel Mark 16:15-20
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Be with Jesus and his disciples on the mountain. Listen to him give you his missionary mandate: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” What are your thoughts and feelings? What is your “world” in which you proclaim the gospel?
Sunday Snippets
The 4x100 relay is a thrilling event. The most exciting/important time is the baton exchange; many races have been lost because of poor exchanges. Since 1988, US quartets have been disqualified or haven’t finished the event eleven times at the World Championships and the Olympics – even though they had the fastest runners – because of botched baton exchanges.
The Ascension is Jesus passing the baton to his disciples in the great human and Christian race. He has prepared them over three years and especially over the 40 days after the resurrection. It is time for them to take over.
The Ascension completes Jesus’ leg of the relay and his mission on earth to bring the good news to the afflicted, liberty to captives, sight to the blind – in short, to bring wholeness to people.
The Ascension begins the disciples’ part of the relay. Mark establishes an immediate connection between Jesus’ ascension and the disciples’ mission: “So the Lord Jesus… was taken up into heaven… But they went forth and preached everywhere.”
This continuation of the mission is a massive challenge. But the Lord assures us that he is with us through his Spirit.
The scene in today’s first reading is modelled on the experience of Joshua and Elisha. Joshua received a share of Moses’ spirit and Elisha received a double share of Elijah’s. Jesus assures his disciples that they will receive the power to continue his work: the Holy Spirit.
Despite this promise, they remained there “gazing into heaven.” They have not understood that they must look towards the earth – the locus of their mission.
The baton has been passed to us. The mission is ours; the Spirit and power of the Lord are ours. Am I willing to carry the baton and run my leg of the race? How will I continue Christ’s mission in the area in which I live and work?
PS: It takes time and practice for relay teams to run well. US national teams have little of that; the relay is an all-star team that rarely runs together. I need time with the Lord to receive the baton; I need to be in the correct “exchange-zone”; I need to run with the team… always!
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Do I take this “missionary mandate” seriously? Or do I believe it is for the “apostles” or someone else?
Reading 2: “Live in a manner worthy of the call you have received.” What is the call I have received and how do I live it?
Gospel: When was the last time I shared my faith with someone? What occasions for sharing my faith have I missed?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Jesus, our Risen Lord, is at the right hand of God to pray for us and with us to the Father. Through him, we implore the Father for the needs of the Church and of the world, and pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that, empowered by the Spirit, we may communicate the Good News with courage and conviction, we pray…
R: For leaders of nations: that the peace and justice of God’s rule may inspire all who lead and govern to recognize the dignity of each person and promote the common good, we pray…
R: For all missionaries: that God may help them announce the Good News boldly and sustain their spirits as they help build the kingdom of God, we pray…
R: For the responsible use of the internet and social media: that our digital communication may help us spread truth and happiness, love and respect, inclusion and encounter rather than falsehood, exclusion, unhappiness, and alienation, we pray…
R: For greater awareness of our responsibility for the earth: that we may recognise the goodness of all creation and care for the wonderful gift that God has given us, we pray…
R: For ourselves: that we may allow the Spirit to work through our words, deeds, and relationships to witness to Christ and his gospel, we pray…
L: Lord our God, your Son has entrusted to us his mission. Give us the grace to learn from him to love and serve, and so witness to your love and his life. He is Lord for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
The Lord’s Prayer
Spiritual Communion
A: Jesus, I know and believe in your real presence in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is you I desire to love and receive above all things. As I am unable to receive your sacramental presence now, come and be with me in heart and soul. Let my entire self be united with you as I welcome you again and know your loving embrace. Amen.
Post Spiritual Communion Reflection
Jesus,
put your Gospel in my heart too,
as you put it in the hearts of your disciples.
Let me take your Word to every living creature,
in daylight and in the dark of night,
from housetops, pulpits, and within every town.
May I live
with all humility and gentleness,
bear with others through love,
strive to preserve the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace.
Whatever roads the journey of my life takes me on,
may your care and protection encompass me.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: God our Father,
strengthen us in the conviction
that your Son is with us until the end of time
in our brothers and sisters.
Let his Spirit guide and strengthen us
to bear witness that he is alive
in our communities of faith and love
and to proclaim his Gospel to all the world.
Through Christ our Lord .
A: Amen.
Blessing
L: The Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and lead us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
L: Go in the peace of Christ.
A: Thanks be to God.
Conclude with a hymn. For instance:
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