<p><em>Breath of the Spirit is our electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.&nbsp;<a href=https://www.dignityusa.org/civicrm/mailing/subscribe>Get Breath of the Spirit scripture reflections in your inbox every week.</a></em></p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>May 16th 2021: The&nbsp;Solemnity of the Ascension</strong></p><p><em>(Some dioceses may opt for the readings for the Seventh Sunday of Easter instead. You can find those readings&nbsp;<a href=https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051621-Sunday.cfm>here</a>.)</em></p><p>Acts 1:1-11<br>Psalm 47:2-3 6-7 8-9<br>Ephesians 1:17-23<br>Mark 16:15-20</p><p><strong>Reflection by&nbsp;Jon Schum</strong></p><p>In my home diocese where I grew up and later served as a diocesan priest with every autumn came Mission Sunday. Missionaries from all over would preach the Sunday sermon which was usually laced with anecdotes from the mission field. &nbsp;&nbsp;Still an annual observance it is now called World Mission Sunday. &nbsp;</p><p>Out of the many I heard one memorable message stands out. An Oblate priest detailed how he and his colleagues in Brazil were establishing base Christian communities (small faith-based communities) to apply gospel principles to social justice.&nbsp; This was a visionary movement at the time. Imagine!&nbsp; Inviting neighbors to gather outside of Sunday worship to break open Gods word and to imagine the power of that Word released in their midst.&nbsp; &nbsp;Everyone a hearer of the word.&nbsp; Everyone a bearer of the word.</p><p>Go into the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation Jesus instructs us in todays gospel. Today the Solemnity of the Ascension of Christ is unambiguously Mission Sunday.</p><p>All three synoptic gospels record the Ascension event but the original ending of the Gospel of Mark seems to have been lost ending at 16:8 where it was reported the women at the empty tomb fled out of fear and kept silent. This was found to be inaccurate and deficient so the passage we read today includes a later addition (yet still inspired) that includes the commissioning of the disciples and the completion of Jesus earthly ministry.&nbsp; As the exalted Jesus is taken up into heaven the ministry is handed over to the disciples who would confirm the message through the signs which accompanied them.</p><p>The Lucan account of the Ascension in the first chapter of Acts of the Apostles embellishes a briefer account at the end of the third gospel.&nbsp; Over the course of forty days the disciples had been in conversation with Jesus who promises them the gift of the Holy Spirit.&nbsp; Theyd like to know Jesus timetable.&nbsp; Is the restoration of Israel imminent?&nbsp; Jesus tells them to wait for what God has promised. They will be witnesses to the ends of the earth.</p><p>However the liturgy of the Ascension is overall less focused on the historical event itself and more centered on its theological and spiritual implications. To this end the second reading from the letter to the Ephesians which is a series of intercessions offers an exalted view of the Risen Christ and the surpassing greatness of Christs power for us who believe. The author of this letter prays that God may give (us) a spirit of wisdom and revelation and a rich knowledge of the Creator.&nbsp; May God enlighten the eyes of (our) hearts so that (we) can see the hope which this call holds for (us)and how infinitely great is the power exercised for (us) who believe.</p><p>Theres a lot to unpack here!&nbsp; But note: &nbsp;these wonderous gifts have already been bestowed! It is left to us to embrace them. Knowledge of God in biblical use is not about conceptual clarity but demands relationship and is embodied in a desire for communion with God with the neighbor and with all of Gods creation.&nbsp; This knowledge is grasped through the eyes of our hearts.</p><p>The author goes on to position the Eternal Word incarnate in Christ as seated high in the heavens far above every earthly and spiritual power now and in every age with an all-embracing fullness that extends throughout the universe. These mysteries are timeless in their cosmic expanse.&nbsp; No earthly power no political power no churchly power can claim preeminence.&nbsp; The mission extends to all creation; that includes the planet we call home.</p><p>Many Dignity members remember the shared convocation with the Global Coalition of Rainbow Catholics at our Chicago conference in 2019.&nbsp; The stories we heard from our global partners opened the eyes of our hearts: stories of faith and courage and persistence in the face of menacing political social and religious oppression.&nbsp; Witnesses to the ends of the earth.&nbsp; Our gathering became an affirmation of our common bond and our shared vision. &nbsp;</p><p>This Sunday-in-mission calls us to go into the world and proclaim the good news to all creation.&nbsp; Gazing at the clouds is a fine pastime but we realize theres work waiting to be done!&nbsp; As communities centered on Gods living word we commit to love made visible through service and to justice restored through witness. &nbsp;We should not underestimate Gods intention that even our most humble and meager efforts to live the mission entrusted to us are imbued with the fullness and grace of the One who is exalted.</p><p>Years ago congregations were dismissed from mass with the words <em>Ite missa est</em> (literally Go YOU are sent). &nbsp;From <em>Missa</em> came the word mass and a connection to the Latin word <em>missio</em> the root of the English word mission. The liturgy does not simply come to an end. Those assembled are sent forth in mission to bring the charisms of the eucharist to the world.&nbsp; Every eucharist ends with a dismissal a sending forth. As you hear these words count yourself among those sent. Everyone a hearer of the word.&nbsp; Everyone a bearer of the word.</p><p>_</p>[caption align=left]<img class=media-element file-default panopoly-image-original img-rounded src=https://www.dignityusa.org/sites/default/files/styles/panopoly_image_original/public/botsjonschum.png?itok=UBG8a5QB alt= data-delta=1>[/caption]<p></p><p></p><p></p><p><em><strong>Jon Schum</strong>&nbsp;and his husband Ron Lacro are longtime Dignity Boston members. Jon has served on its board and liturgy committee and is one of the chapter's ordained presiders. For many years he supervised and provided arts-based therapeutic programming for an elder services agency in Boston. He is currently a co-facilitator of the Aging with Dignity caucus.</em></p><p><em><strong><a href=https://www.dignityusa.org/civicrm/mailing/subscribe>Get Breath of the Spirit scripture reflections in your inbox every week.</a></strong></em></p>