Jesus Go Up to Heaven

Scripture Reading: Acts 1:1–11

If you want: Luke 24:50–52

Wetin Happen Before: This passage below from Acts of the Apostles start with the instruction wey Jesus give the disciples to remain for Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit to come, as the Father don promise. So dem wait for forty days.

On the fortieth day, Jesus appear to the eleven Apostles wey remain and tell dem to go preach reach every end of the earth. He promise say the Holy Spirit go soon come to dem so that dem fit do their work to bear witness to Christ. For the full meaning of the word, person wey dey “bear witness” na martyr. Each of these Apostles go get im own share for this martyrdom, each one for im own way.

Then Jesus go with the Apostles to the Mount of Olivet, and dem take am up to Heaven. As He dey go up, two angels speak to the Apostles. Dem tell the Apostles say Jesus go return one day, and then all of dem leave.

Ignatius no include meditation on Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit actually come. Instead, na here he end im meditations on Scripture. Maybe one reason why he do am like this na because na the life of Christ our Lord Ignatius focus on for these meditations. Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit come, na the next stage for the life of the Church and the life of all Christians.

Use this meditation especially to think deep about how God don call you too to bear witness to Christ. God call you make you no hold anything back, but give everything for Christ and for the sake of the Gospel. To do the will of God perfectly no be only to love God, but to love other people too. And no better way dey to love other people pass to share the Gospel and the glory of Christ wey rise from death with dem.

Reflection: With prayer, think deep about Acts 1:1–12 (If you want: Luke 24:50–52) as you use the ways of meditation and contemplation wey you don sabi.

Points Wey You Fit Choose to Think Deep About:

Dem give dem mission.
Dem promise dem power wey pass natural power when the Holy Spirit come.
God call dem to bear witness, to be martyrs.
Dem see martyrdom as the ground where the seeds wey make the Church bear fruit dey grow. This na great truth wey look as if e contradict itself.
Think deep about how Christ actually go up to Heaven.
Why He go up with Im body?
Think about the promise say He go return.
Picture that final return for your mind, the day of Judgment.
Think about your mission to prepare.