On the Back Porch
Reading, pondering and studying God’s Word is sometimes best done “on the back porch.” Each week we will try to offer something for you and your “back porch time.”
The Ascension, Year B
What We Celebrate
This Sunday the Church (in most places) celebrates the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. We are most familiar with the accounts from the Gospel of Luke and most especially from the Acts of the Apostles (also written by Luke). The Markan account is, shall we say, unusual compared to Luke with a single verse describing the Ascension, and some expected and cryptic verses nearby.
Take a moment and consider this amazing reading from the comfort of your back porch.
Full Text of the Sunday Readings
Detailed Commentary – The Ascension in Mark
Detail from “The Ascension” (1775) by John Singleton Copley | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston | PD-US
Why the Ascension Matters
In our modern age it is easy to think of the Ascension of Jesus as the “break out” with Jesus being the first to escape earth and make it into heaven. The origins of such thinking are interesting and complex, but it is also a misunderstanding of the Jewish understanding of “heaven” and “earth.” Bishop Barron explains why the Ascension is akin to the “transfiguration” of earth? Interesting, heh? Watch the video to learn more.