Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Thursday of the 6th week of Easter, May 29, 2025, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ to Heaven

Delivered by Andrew and Shendy Jost from the Parish of Saint Albert the Great in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 1: 1-11; Rs psalm 47: 2-3.6-7.8-9; Ephesians 1: 17-23; Luke 24: 46-53. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NUMBER 40 The title for our meditation of thisAscension Day is: The Significance of Number 40. People often say: "lifebegins at 40". The new and meaningful life is obtained when someonereaches the age of 40. On this Lord's Ascension Day we want to reflect on thesignificance of the number 40, when God pleases to reveal His will and mystery. In our scriptures, 40 is a veryimportant number. It means completeness and gratefulness. Moses went to themountain to have meeting with God and he spent 40 days in prayer and fasting.The Israelites wandered for 40 years in their journey to enter the promisedland. For 40 days after His resurrection, Jesus appeared several times andtaught His apostles. In His apparitions, He assured them of His resurrectionand prepared them that eventually they went out to the world to proclaim theGospel. The key word here is completeness. Itis about fully-booked appointment by God, that our tickets for pilgrimage onthis earth as followers of Christ, give us an optimistic view about heaven.Jesus ascended into heaven really gives us the meaning that we are alreadybooked. In every ticket there is a list of menus of spiritual food that makesus confident and hopeful about our pilgrimage that is under way. The first menu writes the following:"The risen Lord is always with us now and for ever". He ascended intoheaven but he will always be present with us at all times in different forms.He is with us through His Holy Spirit. The second menu writes the following:"The risen Lord strengthens us to continue His works". We carry outour duties, services and professions with the energy of Jesus Christ, the styleof Jesus Christ, the mind of Jesus Christ and the character of Jesus Christ. The third menu writes the following:"You are My witnesses to all corners of the world". Through the workof preaching the gospel which is helped by the advancement of informationtechnology today, everyone immediately and personally is able to receive thegood news of the Lord. And the fourth menu writes the following: "Each ofus is the official messenger of Jesus Christ". Our "official"status is a distictive mark that makes us different from false messengers. All the menus are complete. It's finaland we just enjoy them. It is hoped that with the tickets already fully bookedfor the final of our journey, we will be more joyful to welcome the outpouringof the Holy Spirit on the Pentecost Day, and be always open to be guided by Himin every moment of our lives. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... Almighty God, we thank you for this Ascension Day of our Lord JesusChrist that gives us assurance about our journey to heaven, to be in glory withYou. May we always enjoy this journery and not lose our focus on it. Hail Maryfull of grace ... In the name of the Father ...