SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2025
In the archdioceses and dioceses within the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Omaha and Philadelphia, the Ascension of the Lord always falls on Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter (May 29, 2025) and is a Holy Day of Obligation. In all other archdioceses and dioceses, the Ascension of the Lord is transferred to the Seventh Sunday of Easter.
At our parish, we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord on Thursday, May 29 in English at 8.30 am and 7.00 pm in St Charles Borromeo Church and in Spanish at 7.00 pm in the Chapel of Resurrection.
After Jesus’ resurrection, the time came for him to return to heaven to prepare a place for us, as his earthly ministry had been fulfilled. The Ascension serves as an ultimate demonstration of Jesus’ power over death, inaugurating his reign over heaven and earth as the Living King.
Acts 1: 6-11 describes the Ascension and Jesus’ final words to his disciples before he returned to his Father:
When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But 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.” When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”
But Jesus did not leave them alone in this Great Commission, not in the least. He promised to send a “helper” to strengthen and intercede for all his followers: the Holy Spirit. It was, and is, the Holy Spirit who guides the Church and fills Jesus’ followers with his power, enabling them to share the Gospel until the day Jesus returns. When Jesus ascended into heaven, two significant events in particular happened: Jesus gave his followers instructions on how they were to live, and he left them with a promise. He directed the disciples to spread the message of the Gospel to the ends of the earth, declaring the good news of salvation. The power of the Ascension lies in the great triumph of Jesus over sin and death, as he invites us to share in the redemptive new life that we may have in him.
May the promise of Jesus’ ascension fill us with hope as we eagerly await the day of his return.