Lovers of God

From Easter to Pentecost, the First Reading for Sundays and the Feast of the Ascension is taken from the Acts of the Apostles. This differs from the rest of the year when the First Reading comes from the Old Testament. Saint Luke is the author of both the Gospel which bears his name and the Acts of the Apostles, which he presents as a sequel to his Gospel.
 
This Thursday, on the Feast of the Ascension, we hear the opening line of Acts. He dedicates this work to an unknown recipient named Theophilus. Since this name in Greek means “lover of God,” it is thought by some that it refers not to a particular person, but to all lovers of God who might read his book. Scripture scholars are divided on this. But since we are, indeed, lovers of God, we can sit up and pay closer attention to a letter written directly to each of us.
 
Saint Luke sees the Ascension of the Lord as an important turning point in the life of the nascent Church. So important is it that he ends his Gospel with a brief mention of the Ascension and now begins the Acts with the same story, with similar brevity, thus connecting the two books.
 
 
The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord takes place forty days after the Resurrection. We know that the number 40 is significant (Noah’s 40 days of rain, The Hebrews’ 40 years wandering in the desert, the Lord’s 40 days in the desert before beginning His public ministry) so this suggests that the Resurrection, the Ascension and Pentecost, all part of a singular mystery in the life of Christ, did not happen all at once, but was spread out over a period of time in order not to overwhelm the Disciples of Christ who were both amazed and frightened at what they had experienced. This would give them time to take in the meaning of the supernatural events which they were privileged to witness.
 
Of course, no one actually witnessed the Lord’s Resurrection; it happened in the night and was discovered on Easter morning. However, the Lord made certain that His disciples would witness His Ascension (and later the Coming of the Holy Spirit) so that there would be no doubt where He went. I saw, while in Rome, a painting of the Ascension by Hans Kulmbach which I actually found amusing. Depicted were the Apostles, gazing heavenward toward the Lord, whose Ascension had already begun. In the painting, the only part of the Lord that one sees is His feet, as the rest of His body has apparently already disappeared into the clouds.
 
I’ve always thought it interesting that the angels who appear on the scene ask the dumbfounded Apostles, “Why are you standing there looking at the sky?” I wonder who wouldn’t! Try to picture yourself witnessing this supernatural phenomenon and then casually walking away. It reminds me of St. Peter’s words at the Transfiguration: “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” While we must depart the church when Mass is over each Sunday, it seems always a good thing for us to linger with the Gospel that has been read for us, to contemplate its meaning for our life beyond Sunday Mass and how we will bring the Lord’s Presence to people around us, so many of whom seem to experience only His absence.