CONTINUING THE WORK OF THE MASTER
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
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. In religious congregations and dioceses, this month is one of transfers; we have handing-taking over of roles and offices! The Ascension may be seen as the Lord handing over his mission to his disciples, and the disciples taking over and continuing the work of the Master. We have the same mission. We pray, like the disciples did in the Upper Room, for the gift of the Spirit to continue Jesus’ work.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have failed to continue the work of the Master, 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,
you led the Messiah
through suffering into risen life
and took him up to the glory of heaven.
Clothe us with the power promised from on high,
and send us forth to the ends of the earth
as heralds and witnesses of Jesus Christ,
who 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 Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
Go and teach all nations, says the Lord;
I am with you always, until the end of the world.
Gospel Luke 24:46-53
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Be with Jesus and his disciples as he leads them out to Bethany. Listen to him give you his missionary mandate: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” What are your thoughts and feelings?
Sunday Snippets
The great Italian composer Giacomo Puccini wrote his final opera Turandot when he was stricken with throat cancer. Puccini seemed to have had an inkling of the seriousness of his condition. Before leaving for Brussels for treatment, he visited his favourite student—Auturo Toscanini—and begged him: “Don’t let my Turandot die.” He died a few days later. After his death, his disciples studied the score carefully and completed the opera.
On 25 April 1926, Toscanini directed the world premiere of Turandot in Milan’s La Scala opera house. When the opera reached the point at which Puccini was forced to stop, Toscanini put down his baton, and tearfully told the audience: “Here the opera ends, because at this point the maestro died.” There was silence throughout the opera house. After a few minutes, Toscanini picked up the baton, smiled through his tears and said: “But his disciples finished his work.”
The story of Turandot is like the story of Christianity! Before Jesus completed his work of establishing the kingdom on earth, he died. But he rose again and before his ascension, asked his disciples to continue his work.
The first verses of the first reading connect the Acts of the Apostles with the Gospel according to Luke: Jesus commissioned his disciples to be his witnesses and to continue the work of the Master.
Right through the Acts of the Apostles, Luke will describe the way in which the disciples continue the work of the Master. It is a sort of déjà vu experience! The life of the disciples in the Acts mirrors—in striking ways—the public life of Jesus.
The Solemnity of the Ascension reminds us that Jesus calls us, like he called the disciples, to continue the work of the Master.
To continue our Master’s work, we—like Puccini’s disciples—must understand the score: the life and ministry of Jesus, as it has been handed down to us through scripture and tradition.
However, unlike Puccini’s disciples, we are called to perform our Master’s opera not occasionally, but to live it every day; not in auditoriums, but in our families, work places, communities, churches, and society.
Unlike Puccini’s disciples, we cannot say that we have finished the work of the Master; we can only continue it as best we can. The Master will finish it when he comes again. Until that day, “the disciples continue his work”!
Will I make the effort to understand the work of the Master? How will I continue the work of the Master?
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1 and Gospel: What does “witness to the ends of the earth” mean to me? In what way do I “witness”? Or am I like the disciples “standing there looking at the sky”?
Reading 2: We do not yet experience completely Christ’s coming, even though he is there in sacrament and word. Let me think of some times or instances in my life where an appropriate plea to God would be “come, Lord Jesus.”
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 we may continue the mission of Jesus and bring forth the kingdom of God through our worship, work, and relationships, we pray…
R: For the world: that God may bring an end to armed conflict and protect the vulnerable for harm, we pray…
R: For all who spread the Good News: that God may inspire them to announce his saving love and healing presence boldly and dynamically, we pray…
R: For those who are ill: that God may heal their pain, ease their fear, and give them the courage to engage with life fully, we pray…
R: For greater awareness of our responsibility for the earth and its resources: that we may recognise the goodness of all creation and do what we can to restore and care for the wonderful gift that God has given us, we pray…
R: For ourselves: that the Spirit may guide us in witnessing to Jesus and all that God has done in showing compassion and forgiveness to all the world, 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
Marie Dunne’s hymn, You Will Be My Witnesses, celebrates Christ’s commission to be his witnesses and his promise to always be with us. During the coronavirus pandemic, many people are honouring that commission in their own special way. The hymn was originally composed to celebrate the Year of Vocation (2008).
Watch You Will Be My Witnesses
or pray
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:
