Tracks for the Lectio Divina for Young Adults Lectionautas Project CELAM/CEBIPAL UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES Rev.

. Gabriel Mestre Translation by Deacon Tony Maceo

LECTIO DIVINA The Ascension of the Lord Cycle B

Your word is a lamp that gives light wherever I walk Psalm 119:105

BIBLICAL TEXT: Acts 1, 1-11

Theophilus, I first wrote to you [a] about all that Jesus did and taught from the very first until he was taken up to heaven. But before he was taken up, he gave orders to the apostles he had chosen with the help of the Holy Spirit. 3For forty days after Jesus had suffered and died, he proved in many ways that he had been raised from death. He appeared to his apostles and spoke to them about God's kingdom. 4While he was still with them, he said: Don't leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do. 5John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Jesus Is Taken to Heaven While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, "Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?" [b] 7Jesus said to them, "You don't need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. 8But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world." 9After Jesus had said this and while they were watching, he was taken up into a cloud. They could not see him, 10but as he went up, they kept looking up into the sky.
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Tracks for the Lectio Divina for Young Adults Lectionautas Project CELAM/CEBIPAL UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES Rev. Gabriel Mestre Translation by Deacon Tony Maceo

Suddenly two men dressed in white clothes were standing there beside them. 11They said, "Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen him go." CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION

1. READING
What does the text say? What is happening in it?
Dear friends: As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, the liturgy brings this year as a Gospel text that of Mark 16, 15-20. However, inasmuch as the complete narrative of this event is covered in the book of Acts of the Apostles, we have decided to pray and work with this text instead. It can be divided in three sections: 1. Introduction to the book of Acts (vv. 1-3) 2. Dialogue between the resurrected Jesus and the disciples (vv. 4-8) 3. The Ascension of the Lord (vv. 9-11) In the first section it is clear that Luke wrote not only his gospel but also the Acts of the Apostles. He addresses it to a man named Theophilus, literally from the Greek meaning he who loves God, who could be a real person or a symbolic one so that men of all ages can feel represented by this Theophilus. This book narrates what happened until Jesus ascended into heaven. The second part, narrates the final moments of Jesus here on earth. It establishes a dialog that begins with a question from the apostles: "Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?" Jesus will answer: "You don't need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. He then proceeds to remind them that they are to prepare themselves for the coming of the Holy Spirit that will make them witnesses of God throughout all earth. It is curious that they have not yet realized that Jesus is not a political king to Israel but rather a religious Messiah that has come to bring to Gods people all the messianic gifts it their fullness, joy and peace.

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Tracks for the Lectio Divina for Young Adults Lectionautas Project CELAM/CEBIPAL UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES Rev. Gabriel Mestre Translation by Deacon Tony Maceo The last part, His ascension is described in detail, including the cloud. Two celestial beings appear that question the apostles: "Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen him go." The apostles have changed from looking on earth for the Messiah to just staring into heaven, rather than doing the works given to them by Jesus: to proclaim the Word and bring Faith to men of all the times and cultures. To keep in mind: The Book of the Acts of the Apostles is part of the New Testament after the four gospels. The author is Luke. For that reason, it resembles the style of his gospel, however in the gospel he narrates the ministry of Jesus while in the Acts he covers the ministry of the Church as it grew from the few in Jerusalem and later extended to the ends of the earth.

Other biblical references to explore: Lk 1: 1-4; Mt 28: 19-20; Lk 24: 49-51. To continue in depth these topics refer to the Study Bible Contemporary English Version under the reference: The Ascension of Jesus. QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORD To whom is this text addressed? How many books does the author refer to in this text? What did he introduce in his first book? Which was the first book and do we still use it today? What does Jesus mandate to His disciples in this text? What do the Apostles ask Jesus? What is the significance for them of the issue of becoming king? What type of Kingdom do they have in mind? Have they really understood Jesus message? How does Jesus answer? What does He invite them to and what happens later? How is His Ascension described?

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Tracks for the Lectio Divina for Young Adults Lectionautas Project CELAM/CEBIPAL UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES Rev. Gabriel Mestre Translation by Deacon Tony Maceo Who appear and how are they dressed? What do this celestial figures tell the Apostles?

2 MEDITATION
What does the text tell me?
Questions to meditate Do I identify myself with Theophilus? What does it mean to me today that I stay in Jerusalem to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit? Why and under which circumstances should I wait to receive the strength of the Holy Spirit that we celebrate next week? Do I understand the Messianic role of Jesus and its implication in todays life? Is my life focused on earthly things rather than in the Kingdom of God? Do I fully accept my responsibility to bring the word of God to all that come to my life?

3 PRAYER
What do I (we) tell Him?
As we can see, the Feast of the Ascension of brings us a spiritual balance between heaven and earth. We are called to fulfill our vocation (calling) on earth to earn our place in heaven. As we follow the steps of Lectio Divina we must avoid the temptation of remaining in the Contemplation only without following it with actions. This prayer should be a thanksgiving to God for the gift of Lectio Divina that prompts us to live the dynamics of our Faith that includes our life on earth with the objective of eternal life in heaven.

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Tracks for the Lectio Divina for Young Adults Lectionautas Project CELAM/CEBIPAL UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES Rev. Gabriel Mestre Translation by Deacon Tony Maceo

4 CONTEMPLATION
How do I (we) bring the message inside of me (us)?
To bring into our hearts this Sundays message, I suggest that we use the phrase of the celestial men that appeared to the Apostles and deepen our commitment to God here on earth such as: What are you doing staring at the heavens?

5 ACTION
What is my (our) commitment?
PERSONAL: To examine my conscience to identify any doubts I may have regarding the presence of Jesus as my Messiah and to do an action that evidences my Faith. COMMUNITY: Discuss the theme as a group, searching the significance of the most important phrases in our common lives and identify places where as a group we can evangelize those that do not know the Messiah.

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