Questions | Ascension of the Lord (C)

STUDY QUESTIONSRCIA RESOURCESFEATURED PARISHES

SOURCE: WORD-SUNDAY

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VINCE CONTRERAS

Studying God’s Word

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With what task does Jesus leave his disciples (verse 49)? With what promise? How must they have felt? How much do you think they understood the meaning of his words?
Why do the disciples act so differently when Jesus is taken from them now (verse 50-53) than when he was taken away by the crucifixion (Matthew 26:56, 74-75)?
Why is it important to you that Jesus’ mission was anticipated beforehand in the Old Testament (Isaiah 50:6, 53:3-10; Hosea 6:1-3, etc)?
Who are the disciples in your life who encourage your service to Christ?
How would you live differently if Jesus was not currently reigning in heaven, but was just another noble martyr? In light of your circumstances, where is the mission field Jesus has sent you? Who are some of the people you can witness to in your life? By your words?

SOURCE: Sunday Scripture Study by Vince Contreras, Used with Permission

FR. EAMON TOBIN

Sharing God’s Word

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Turn to the person next to you and share what word/s or image/s in the readings caught your attention? Did they comfort or challenge you or touch you in some other way? The facilitator can decide which is more helpful: to share the next questions with the whole group, or to share in smaller groups of three or four.
After the Ascension, the disciples returned to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit. What new or fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit do you desire at this time for your parish and for yourself?
Jesus’ last message to his disciples was to commission them to evangelize every creature. To what extent is your parish faithful to this great commission? How faithful are you? How can both you and your parish carry out more faithfully this commission of Jesus?
Can you share an ascension story from your life, a time when you were “lifted up” from pain to healing or hope?
Name one thing today’s Gospel says to us that we disciples of Jesus need to heed and act on.

SOURCE: Commentaries on the Lectionary by Fr. Eamon Tobin (1947-2021), Used with Permission

FR. CLEMENT D. THIBODEAU

Echoing God’s Word

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7th Sunday of Easter

1. Have you ever asked yourself what kind of person you would have become if you had not known the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you ever tried to imagine what the practical impact has been upon you that the Lord Jesus and his love for you were revealed to you? List and share some of the blessings that you have received from knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior. Tell others how you have become aware of God’s love and mercy for you through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in your heart.

2. Are you aware that the “glory” that was in Jesus has been handed on to the Church? Not the kind of glory that expresses itself in pride and self-centeredness but the kind that shows that the works of salvation are being worked quietly and with humility by the ministries of the Church. Identify some of the works of salvation that are taking place every day in the Church community. How is the “glory” given to the Church being shown by the works undertaken by your parish, by your family, by your faith-sharing group?

3. Discuss the practical impact that results from disunity in the Church. How have factions and disagreements had a negative impact upon your parish? What about the divided witness that is being given by separate churches and denominations in your community? The struggle between socalled “loyal Catholics” and Catholics who are allegedly “disloyal to the pope” causes deep pain in the body of the Catholic Church at this time. Are you aware of these struggles?

SOURCE: Echoing God’s Word by Clement D. Thibodeau (1932-2017), Used with Permission

DR. KIERAN O’MAHONY, OSA

Hearers of the Word

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While Jesus was blessing them, he withdrew from them

Pointers for Prayer

The Ascension of Jesus was an important growth point for the disciples. Jesus would be with them in a different way from now on. Painful though it was, it was necessary for them to let go of his physical presence and adjust to the new reality. Perhaps you have known similar transition points in your own life.
Jesus invited the disciples to be witnesses to the good news they had learned. The way we live, speak and relate to others speaks of what we have learned about life. We all are witnesses. How have you been a witness to the goodness of life?
In particular, Jesus invited them to be witnesses to the good news of forgiveness. Recall people who have been witnesses to you of forgiveness and reconciliation. What effect did they have on your life? Have you been able to be a witness to the good news of forgiveness in your life?
In v. 49, Jesus instructs the apostles to wait patiently for the moment of grace. What been your experience of waiting for a moment of grace? What are the moments of grace that you particularly recall (a friendship, a new opportunity, birth of a baby, etc)?

PRAYER: God of majesty, 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 of repentance and witnesses of Jesus Christ, the first-born from the dead, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen