The Ascension of the Lord

Ascension Thursday in 2015, which fell on May 14, was a significant feast in the Catholic liturgical calendar, celebrating the moment Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after His resurrection. The readings for this day, as assigned by the Roman Missal for the Solemnity of the Ascension (used in the Ordinary Form of the Mass), provide a rich foundation for reflection. These readings are typically consistent across years for the Ascension, unless a diocese transfers the feast to the following Sunday, which some regions did in 2015 (e.g., many dioceses in the U.S.). However, for this reflection, I’ll focus on the readings for Ascension Thursday itself, as observed in places like the Vatican or dioceses that retained the traditional date.

The Readings for Ascension Thursday 2015

The readings for the Solemnity of the Ascension in the Ordinary Form (Novus Ordo) are as follows, based on the Lectionary for Mass (U.S. edition, which aligns with the universal calendar for this feast):

• First Reading: Acts 1:1-11
• Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
• Second Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23 (or, in some lectionaries, Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23)
• Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20 (for Year B, which 2015 was in the three-year cycle)

Reflection on the Readings

First Reading: Acts 1:1-11 – Christ’s Departure and the Mission Ahead

The Acts of the Apostles opens with Luke’s account of Jesus’ final moments on earth. After His resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples, teaching them about the Kingdom of God. He then gives them a mission: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). As He speaks, He is lifted up, and a cloud takes Him from their sight, leaving the disciples gazing upward until angels assure them of His return.

This reading invites us to reflect on the tension between longing for Jesus’ presence and embracing the mission He entrusts to us. The Ascension isn’t an abandonment but a commissioning. Jesus doesn’t leave us orphaned; He sends the Holy Spirit (promised in Acts 1:8) to empower us. In 2015, a world grappling with conflicts, such as the ongoing Syrian civil war and the rise of ISIS, this call to be witnesses “to the ends of the earth” resonates deeply. The disciples’ upward gaze reminds me of my own tendency to get stuck in nostalgia or fear, rather than stepping out in faith to share the Gospel. The Ascension challenges us to stop staring at the sky and start acting—bringing Christ’s love to a broken world.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 47 – A Song of Triumph

Psalm 47 proclaims, “God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord” (v. 6). This psalm captures the joy and triumph of the Ascension. Jesus, having completed His earthly mission, returns to the Father, taking His place at God’s right hand. The imagery of clapping hands and shouting for joy (v. 2) reflects the cosmic celebration of Christ’s victory over sin and death.

In 2015, this psalm might have felt bittersweet for many Catholics. While we rejoice in Christ’s triumph, the world was marked by suffering—earthquakes in Nepal, refugee crises, and social unrest in places like Baltimore following Freddie Gray’s death. Yet the psalm reminds us that Christ’s Ascension guarantees His ultimate reign. No matter the chaos on earth, “God is king of all the earth” (v. 8). This truth calls me to trust in God’s sovereignty, even when the world seems to spiral out of control, and to join in the psalmist’s song of praise, knowing that Christ’s victory is secure.

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23 – The Power of Christ’s Exaltation

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians prays that the faithful may receive a “spirit of wisdom and revelation” to know the hope of their calling and the greatness of Christ’s power (Ephesians 1:17-19). He describes how God raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at His right hand, “far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion” (v. 21), making Him head of the Church, His body.

This passage underscores the Ascension as the moment Christ is exalted as Lord of all creation. In 2015, this message of hope was vital for a Church facing challenges—scandals, declining attendance in some regions, and the cultural shift toward secularism. Paul’s words remind us that Christ’s authority surpasses every earthly power, whether political, cultural, or spiritual. As a Catholic, this reading prompts me to reflect on where I place my hope. Do I trust in Christ’s power, or do I let worldly anxieties dominate my heart? The Ascension assures us that Jesus, now reigning in glory, intercedes for us and equips us through the Church to live out our faith with boldness.

Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20 – The Great Commission

The Gospel for Ascension Thursday in Year B (2015) is Matthew’s account of the Great Commission. The disciples meet Jesus on a mountain in Galilee, where they worship Him, though “some doubted” (Matthew 28:17). Jesus declares, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (v. 18), and sends them to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (v. 19). He concludes with a promise: “I am with you always, until the end of the age” (v. 20).

This Gospel ties together the themes of the Ascension: Christ’s authority, the mission of the Church, and His enduring presence. The disciples’ mixed response—worship and doubt—mirrors my own faith journey. Even in 2015, amidst a world of uncertainty, Jesus’ command to “make disciples” was a call to action for Catholics. The Synod on the Family, which was ongoing in 2015, highlighted the Church’s mission to evangelize and support families in a rapidly changing culture. Jesus’ promise to be with us “always” offers comfort, especially when the task feels daunting. Reflecting on this, I’m reminded that the Ascension isn’t an end but a beginning—Christ’s physical departure empowers us to continue His work, knowing He remains with us through the Eucharist, the Spirit, and the Church.

Personal Reflection

The readings for Ascension Thursday 2015 challenge me to shift my focus from what I can see to what I am called to do. Like the disciples, I often find myself “looking up,” yearning for a tangible sign of Jesus’ presence, especially in a world that feels so fractured. The events of 2015—global crises, cultural shifts, and the Church’s own struggles—might have tempted me to despair or retreat. But the Ascension reminds me that Jesus has not abandoned us. He has ascended to intercede for us, to send the Spirit, and to entrust us with His mission.

The Great Commission in Matthew’s Gospel resonates most deeply. Jesus doesn’t call perfect disciples; He calls those who doubt, who struggle, who are still learning to trust. In 2015, as the Church navigated challenges like the refugee crisis and debates over marriage and family, this mission felt urgent. It still does today. The Ascension invites me to step out in faith, to be a witness to Christ’s love, and to trust that He is with me, even when I can’t see Him.

Conclusion

The readings for Ascension Thursday 2015 paint a picture of a victorious Christ who entrusts His mission to us, His Church. Acts calls us to action, Psalm 47 invites us to rejoice, Ephesians assures us of Christ’s power, and Matthew commissions us to evangelize with the promise of His presence. In a world marked by uncertainty—then in 2015, and even now in 2025—the Ascension offers hope. Jesus reigns, and He calls us to participate in His work of redemption, not as passive observers, but as active witnesses to His love. May we, like the disciples, move from gazing at the sky to bringing Christ to the ends of the earth.

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051715-ascension.cfm