In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
It is always of great reminder that St Luke the Holy Evangelist writes to Theophilus in order to teach him the proofs and testimony to the Truth of Jesus Christ and his Church. This witness of Jesus Christ comes not from his own mind but from the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ comes to the end of his forty day journey with his disciples. Just as Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. He now concludes his time on earth by spending 40 days moving in and out among his disciples.
Be certain that many people will take this time to focus on how Jesus left and how he will return. Jesus Christ will come back in the same way he left. One simple event! But do not keep looking up into the sky. Do not keep your focus away from the here and now. But look to the world around you.
St Luke thinks about the world around him. He thinks about the intelligent. He thinks about the scientists. He tells them plainly the true account of what happened to Jesus Christ and what happened to his Apostles, and even his Church.
God gathers his people into this church. Not so they can spend their time looking up into the sky. But so that they can spend time discussing what Jesus Christ has done for each of them. He was crucified for their sins. He will return and restore the entire creation to the way it was supposed to be, without sin. He has cleansed you from sin.
OT: Isaiah 50:1-11
OTA: Exodus 24:12-18
NTA: Romans 8:31-39
G: Mark 9:14-29
GA: Luke 24:50-53
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