Ascension Day (Acts 1:1-11): Transition, Task, Empowerment

A reflection on the story of the Ascension (Acts 1:1-11): transition, task, empowerment. Written and spoken by Kieran J. O'Mahony OSA. 

Gentle piano music to close the meditation

Transcript

John’s Lane
D08 F8NW
Ascension day
Acts 1:1-11
1 June 2025


Welcome
When we reflect on Gospel stories, art can sometimes be an inspiration. The presentation of the Ascension, however, is an awkward case. The literal representation of going up bodily into the sky is not so helpful, precisely because it is a bit, well, literal.

It would be more helpful to go back to your own experience of major transition in your life — joyful ones such marriage or the birth of your first child, difficult ones such bereavements or loss,  challenging one such as a new career or moving abroad. We know the feeling of loss; we recognise the experience of a new situation; we wonder how things will be from now on. That mixture of feelings can help us enter into the story we just heard from the Acts of the Apostles.

Topic
In short, it is a story of transition, task and empowerment — actually very relevant to us today in our current situation and I would like to pause on each one.

Steps
Transition
In our traditional churches, where things seems to be continuing as usual, even if with reduced numbers, it might be possible to be sheltered from the rapidity of change. Already, because of the precipitous decline in vocations to ordained ministry, parishes are being combined. Now you can have one priest for 2, 3 or even 4 parishes. This is just about possible now but actually unsustainable in the long run. Not that clergy are everything. The more important question is how will the community of faith not only survive but flourish into the future?

Our present Archbishop, Dermot Farrell spoke about transition at the start of the Synodal Pathway, in the Pro-Cathedral. To quote his own words:

‘Life is alive! When we reflect on our lives, we see that human life is characterised by change: that which does not change has either never been alive or is no longer alive. Stones do not change, and unfortunately, life can become like that: life can become fossilised—very beautiful, but no longer alive, a stunning relic of another age, but no longer alive: “dry bones,” to use Ezekiel’s powerful image (Ezekiel 37:1-14). The way the Church lives out its mission—the way we live out our mission—continually needs revitalisation, just as the dry bones in Ezekiel’s valley of death needed to be invigorated.

Task
We could ask ourselves, what is the task before us? Our first step, simply as the people of God, as the baptised, is to engage again with the core of the Good News: the person and teaching of Jesus, what happened for us in his death and resurrection, the gift of the Spirit. This is foundational but we need to go a step further. New ministries – not all ordained — will evolve, ministries of faith, accompaniment and service, essential for the flourishing of the people of God.  Not everyone needs to come forward, but some do, of course. What gifts could I bring? The prayer in our second reading today from Ephesians may inspire us:

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers.

Empowerment
As you know, there are two “processes” taking place in Dublin diocese right now: the Building Hope Project and the Synodal Pathway. Both are about the flourishing of the community of faith, though coming at it from different angles. The report of the international Synodal consultations has been published — a powerful expression of faith, energy and even optimism. People did really benefit from the listening process – not just listening to each other but to what the Holy Spirit might be saying to us today through the voices and experiences of us all.

The best-known writer on becoming a synodal church is a Venezuelan, called Rafael Luciani. In his most recent book, he speaks of the future potential of the Synodal Pathway as follows:

In a synodal Church, we are asked not only to walk together—a simplistic way of understanding synodality—but rather, and above all, it highlights the relations and communicative dynamics happening while walking together. It involves the dynamic of praying, meeting, and working together, but also of discerning, and making, and taking decisions together. It is a new ecclesial culture of taking advice and building consensus. By doing so, we can overcome the pyramid and clericalist model of a Church that teaches and another that follows.

It is certainly an exciting vision of transition, task, empowerment.

Conclusion
The real empowerment comes from the Spirit.  We believe the Spirit is with us, the promise of the Father, who will clothe us with power from on high. Next Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. As we have been praying throughout this Synodal Pathway, 

While we walk the synodal pathway, 
let there be a new Pentecost among us. 
Send down upon us again the fire of your love
Breathe in us again the breath of new life.

This is our hope and our prayer. Amen