In Your Time

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, May 16th, 2021:
The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

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Acts
1.1-11

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
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Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

In this first reading, the Apostles’ question, “… is this the time… ?”, was familiar to my little heart. Although I do not share their exact expectations of how and when the Messiah would fulfill God’s promise to restore the kingdom to Israel, I often anticipate God acting in particular ways. I would love to have an “in” on His plans, but typically I don’t get any sort of special insight, but instead receive His invitation to trust.

God’s mystery is both frightening and awe-inspiring, and at times when we encounter Him we can feel frustrated at our inability to control… well, anything. We are so small, and in our weakness, we sometimes struggle to bear with uncertainty and to practice patience. But waiting is required, and, in my experience, it is often the journey itself where God wants to grant me precious gifts and graces; the destination is sweet, but the process of getting there is necessary, painful, and beautiful. In the ache of waiting, we can receive communion.

We see Christ pointing to this source of communion, the Holy Spirit, who unites us in the Trinity. Jesus responds to His Apostles’ question by redirecting their focus to the future, when they will receive power as the Holy Spirit comes upon them. This event will equip them for the mission that God gives to all of us, the Church; to cooperate in His salvific plan and, through Christ, to restore the Kingdom of God. The Apostles likely envisioned a different kind of restoration, and a much smaller timeline for it, but thanks to their surrender to the mystery of the Word we are living today as the Church and continuing this mission. Think of the fruit of their openness to God’s plan and His timing — the Church and her Sacraments, generations of saints, powerful acts of love and mercy, glory upon glory.


Heavenly Father, please help us to be as open as possible to Your mysterious plans for us, and help us trust in You as they are hidden from our eyes and hearts. Christ, the Word made flesh, speak to us and lead us in Your way, truth, and light. Help us receive Your love, Holy Spirit, so that we may share the love of the Trinity with all who we encounter, and help us act in Love when it is Your time.

​Amen.




Kendra L.

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