“Tracks for the Lectio Divina for Young Adults” Lectionautas Project CELAM/CEBIPAL – UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES Rev. Gabriel Mestre Translation by Deacon Tony Maceo http://www.lectionautas.com – http://ww.discipulitos.com 1 1 Theophilus, I first wrote to you [a] about all that Jesus did and taught from the very first 2 until he was taken up to heaven. But before he was taken up, he gave orders to the apostles he had chosen with the help of the Holy Spirit. 3 For forty days after Jesus had suffered and died, he proved in many ways that he had been raised from death. He appeared to his apostles and spoke to them about God's kingdom. 4 While he was still with them, he said: Don't leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do. 5 John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Jesus Is Taken to Heaven6 While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, "Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?" [b] 7 Jesus said to them, "You don't need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. 8 But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world." 9 After Jesus had said this and while they were watching, he was taken up into a cloud. They could not see him, 10 but as he went up, they kept looking up into the sky. LECTIO DIVINA The Ascension of the Lord Cycle B “Your word is a lamp that gives light wherever I walk”Psalm 119: 105BIBLICAL TEXT: Acts 1, 1-11
Suddenly two men dressed in white clothes were standing there beside them.11
They
said, "Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? Jesus
has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen himgo."
CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION
What does the text say? What is happening in it?
Dear friends:
As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, the liturgy brings this year as a
Gospel text that of Mark 16, 15-20. However, inasmuch as the complete narrative of this event iscovered in the book of Acts of the Apostles, we have decided to pray and work with this text
instead.
It can be divided in three sections:
1. Introduction to the book of Acts (vv. 1-3)
2. Dialogue between the resurrected Jesus and the disciples (vv. 4-8)3. The Ascension of the Lord (vv. 9-11)
In the first section it is clear that Luke wrote not only his gospel but also the Acts of the Apostles.He addresses it to a man named Theophilus, literally from the Greek meaning “he who loves
God”, who could be a real person or a symbolic one so that men of all ages can feel represented
by this “Theophilus.” This book narrates what happened until Jesus ascended into heaven.
The second part, narrates the final moments of Jesus here on earth. It establishes a dialog that
begins with a question from the apostles: "Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king
again?" Jesus will answer: "You don't need to know the time of those events that only the Father
controls”. He then proceeds to remind them that they are to prepare themselves for the coming of the Holy Spirit that will make them witnesses of God throughout all earth. It is curious that they
have not yet realized that Jesus is not a “political king” to Israel but rather a religious Messiah
that has come to bring to God’s people all the messianic gifts it their fullness, joy and peace.
The last part, His ascension is described in detail, including the cloud. Two celestial beingsappear that question the apostles: "Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up
into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you
have seen him go." The apostles have changed from looking on earth for the Messiah to juststaring into heaven, rather than doing the works given to them by Jesus: to proclaim the Word and
bring Faith to men of all the times and cultures.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORD
• To whom is this text addressed?
• How many books does the author refer to in this text?
• What did he introduce in his first book?
• Which was the first book and do we still use it today?
• What does Jesus mandate to His disciples in this text?
• What do the Apostles ask Jesus?
• What is the significance for them of the issue of “becoming king? What type of
Kingdom do they have in mind?
• Have they really understood Jesus’ message?
• How does Jesus answer?
• What does He invite them to and what happens later?
• How is His Ascension described?
To keep in mind: The Book of the Acts of the Apostles is part of
the New Testament after the four gospels. The author is Luke.
For that reason, it resembles the style of his gospel, however in
the gospel he narrates the ministry of Jesus while in the Acts hecovers the ministry of the Church as it grew from the few in
Jerusalem and later extended to the ends of the earth.
Other biblical references to explore: Lk 1: 1-4; Mt 28: 19-20; Lk
24: 49-51.
To continue in depth these topics refer to the Study Bible“Contemporary English Version” under the reference: The
