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(Acts 1:1-11;\xa0\xa0 Ps.47:1-3,6-9;\xa0\xa0 Eph.1:17-23\xa0 or\xa0 Eph.4:1-13\xa0 or\xa0 Heb.9:24-28,10:19-23; Mt.28:16-20\xa0 or\xa0 Mk.16:15-20\xa0 or\xa0 Lk.24:46-53) \xa0 \u201cGod mounts His throne amid shouts of joy; the Lord, amid trumpet blasts.\u201d \xa0 Three events are the subject of today\u2019s readings.\xa0 The key of these is certainly the Lord\u2019s ascending into heaven and taking His place at the right hand of the Father.\xa0 Without this the other two could not follow.\xa0 And so we celebrate the Lord\u2019s Ascension in particular; but we also hear of the coming Pentecost and the apostles\u2019 call to go forth to the ends of the world. \u201cAs they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight.\u201d\xa0 Now He goes to heaven, returning to the Father, as He has said, to enter into glory.\xa0 And as He has asked, we should be joyful, we should \u201cshout to God with cries of gladness.\xa0 For the Lord, the Most High, the awesome, is the great King over all the earth,\u201d and now Jesus, our Savior and our brother, is with Him, and so brings us to Him.\xa0 His glory becomes our own, and so His now assuming His throne in heaven should cause us to \u201csing hymns of praise\u201d to Him who now \u201creigns over the nations.\u201d And from His place seated \u201cat the right hand of God\u201d \u201cupon His holy throne,\u201d the Lord keeps \u201cthe promise of the Father about which [we] have heard [Him] speak.\u201d\xa0 For \u201cin a few days [we] will be baptized with the Holy Spirit\u201d; Pentecost will be here, and Jesus\u2019 words to His disciples as He prepares to ascend will be our own: \u201cYou will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.\u201d\xa0 It is from this Holy Spirit that the Church takes its strength, through whom we are all made one in \u201cfaith and knowledge of the Son of God,\u201d and by whom we attain to \u201cthe full stature of Christ.\u201d\xa0 He it is who inspires all, and He could not come except that our high priest has entered the sanctuary of heaven \u2013 opening for us the way to enter there \u2013 and from there delivered unto us the grace which through Him comes. And what does this inspiration, this absolute strength we take in the Spirit call us to do but to heed the Lord\u2019s words and \u201cgo into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature,\u201d knowing as He has said, \u201cI am with you always, until the end of the age\u201d?\xa0 And so, apostles and prophets and evangelists and all His children go forth empowered by His Spirit that \u201chearts [may] be enlightened,\u201d that all might know \u201cthe hope that belongs to His call\u2026 the riches of glory in His inheritance\u2026 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power\u201d \u2013 that all might believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is now seated at the Father\u2019s right hand in heaven, \u201cfar above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.\u201d\xa0 All things are \u201cbeneath His feet,\u201d for \u201cKing of all the earth is God,\u201d and Jesus is God.\xa0 But though the Son has joined the Father, remember He is with us always, suffering with us still and bringing us to His side by the power of His Spirit.\xa0 Wait now on His Word. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "There Is No End to Life" (1st half) from Thoroughfare, seventh album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, may the cloud which took Jesus from our sight soon bring Him back to us and keep Him with us forever. YHWH, your Son mounts His throne of glory, He ascends to you in Heaven, drawing us up into your presence and giving us the power to proclaim your glory and baptize all in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit \u2013 with you, O God, let us be made one! And let us go, O LORD, even to the ends of the earth, your Son working through us by the power of the Spirit upon us.\xa0 As we wait now for your promise to fall upon us and be fulfilled in us, let us with faith set our hearts on your surpassing presence.\xa0 From the bonds of this earth let us be freed, that by the power of the Spirit we might indeed join Jesus at your right hand.\xa0 O let thy kingdom come! Soon your Son shall return to us and we will sing in unending joy.\xa0 But even now we are the Body of Christ, united with Him in Heaven.\xa0 O LORD, send your Spirit forth that we might find the strength to call all souls unto your glory.