Sunday, May 17, 2026

Dear brothers and sisters

The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord commemorates the moment when Jesus Christ, after His Resur-rection, ascended body and soul into heaven in the presence of His disciples.

The observance of the Ascension dates back to the early 4th century, particularly in writings by St. Augustine, who mentions it as a firmly established tradition throughout the universal Church. The feast was formally rec-ognized and included in the Church’s liturgical calendar following the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. As rec-orded in the Acts of the Apostles, the Ascension occurred 40 days after Easter; and therefore, the Solemnity always falls on the Thursday in the sixth week of Easter. However, in many dioceses, including ours where Thursday is not a holy day of obligation, the solemnity is transferred to the seventh Sunday of Easter.

The Ascension of the Lord offers profound meaning for the life of every believer. First and foremost, it re-veals Jesus' sacred identity as the Son of God and the fulfillment of the Scriptures. He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” who took on human flesh to redeem us, restore our relationship with the Father, and lead us into eternal life. His entire earthly mission, including His teachings, passion, death, resurrection, and now His as-cension, is the unfolding of God's divine plan for our salvation.

Secondly, the Ascension is not a moment of departure or abandonment, but of empowerment and transfor-mation. As Jesus rises into heaven, He does not distance Himself from humanity and leave us in despair. Ra-ther, He entrusts us with His mission while He ascends to the Father to prepare a place for us. He challenges us to live with our eyes fixed on what is eternal, our feet firmly rooted in faith, and our hearts open to the joy of discipleship. He encourages us to become His active witnesses in the world, proclaim His Good News to all nations, and continue His tasks on earth with courage, love, and hope.

Lastly, the Ascension is a sacred commission, filled with divine assurance of the Holy Spirit. Before returning to the Father, Jesus promises to send the Advocate to guide His Church and empower His people to carry for-ward His mission. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is sent to strengthen our faith, enlighten our minds, inspire our actions, and ignite our hearts with devotion. We are never alone when He dwells within us, walk with us and supports us in Christan life. We are never alone when He continually reminds us to live our faith with cour-age, leads us toward eternal life, and renews within us the unchanging promise of the Risen Lord: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” In His gifts and by His power, we become worthy to be witnesses of Christ, members of His flock, and beloved children of God.

Sincerely yours in Jesus Christ and Our Lady of La Vang!

Reverend Kiet Anh Ta.