The Catholic Church celebrates it on the following Sunday, this year on May 20th 2018

Ascension Day commemorates the last earthly appearance of the Risen Christ, who, according to Christian belief, ascended into heaven in the presence of many witnesses.  It is one of the four most important dates in the Christian calendar.

Scripture References:

• The eleven disciples went to the hill in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him, even though some of them doubted. Jesus drew near and said to them: “Go to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptise them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age”. (Mt 28:16)
•  Then … he raised his hands and blessed them. As he was blessing them, he departed from them and was taken up into heaven. (Lk 24:50-51)
• They still had their eyes fixed on the sky as he went away, when two men dressed in white suddenly stood beside them and said: “Galileans, why are you standing there looking up at the sky? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11)
• They worshipped him and went back to Jerusalem, filled with great joy, and spent all their time in the Temple giving thanks to God. (Lk 24:50)

Questions

1. What does “to ascend” mean? What do you think “The Ascension” means?

2. What is ‘The Great Commission’ that Jesus told the disciples to go out and do.

3. How does Jesus say people can become his disciples? (2 things)

4. Did the disciples go off and start doing what Jesus told them to? Why not, do you think?

 Further Links: RE Quest Ascension Day 

From C of E Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich: Ascension and Pentecost