• 00:00 Jesus instructs his disciples to spread the gospel and promises believers the power to perform miraculous signs, marking the moment when his humanity comes into full contact with the glory of heaven.
• 10:06 The Ascension of the Lord signifies Jesus being seated at the right hand of God, the church as the body of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit to perform miraculous acts.
  • The language used in Psalm 110 about God appointing a king to be both King and priest is also a prophecy about Jesus being seated at the right hand of God, which would have been significant to faithful Jews.
  • The church is the pillar and Foundation of Truth because it is the body of the Risen and ascended Christ, and as his body, it can manifest and represent his glory on Earth.
  • The disciples were given power and authority by Jesus to perform miraculous acts, and this ability is not limited to those in positions of authority.
  • Following the symbolism of serpents in the Bible, the speaker discusses the literal interpretation of handling snakes as followers of Jesus, emphasizing that it does not mean disciples have to do these things.
  • Proclaiming the message of God may be confirmed by certain signs, showing the presence of God and validating the authority of the Faithful.
  • The Holy Spirit can manifest in powerful ways through expectant faith, allowing people to drive out demons and heal others, and while it’s not a requirement, it is a possibility for those who have learned to manifest the power of the Holy Spirit.
• 16:34 Jesus fulfills the prophecy in Genesis 3:15 by defeating death, reversing sin and death, and recreating the world to bring us back to the intended type of creation.
  • The serpent symbolizes the enemy from the Garden of Eden, and the prophecy in Genesis 3:15 is fulfilled by Jesus defeating death on the cross.
  • Sin and death are being reversed, and the world is being recreated to bring us back to the intended type of creation.
  • A passage in the Book of Numbers describes a test for women suspected of adultery, where they would drink holy water mixed with dust, and if they were innocent, nothing would happen to them.
• 20:10 The disciples demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit through healing and deliverance, showing the authority of God available to all believers.
  • The disciples were a sign of restoring people back into right relationship with God, away from idolatry, and all of these promises happened in the Acts of the Apostles.
  • Paul preaches the good news, baptizes, lays hands on the sick, and performs confirming signs, demonstrating his credibility as a believer.
  • The power to manifest signs and speak with the authority of God is not limited to the 12 apostles, but is available to all in the church.
  • Acknowledging the humanity and brokenness of the disciples, Jesus manifests his power and glory through them by the Holy Spirit, and as representatives of God, they bring power to others in a humbling and responsible manner.
  • The power of the Holy Spirit is manifested through expectant faith in the name of Jesus, allowing for prayers of healing and deliverance to renounce the presence of the enemy and proclaim God’s healing.
  • The speaker shares stories of miraculous healings and emphasizes the power of God to heal and manifest through invocation.
• 27:22 Belief and baptism save the soul, body and soul are important and will be restored at the final Judgment, Holy Spirit’s power may fluctuate based on our faith and openness to God, cooperate with God and have expectant faith.
  • Belief and baptism save the soul from the death of the world, but the body and soul cannot be separated.
  • The body is not bad, it is important and will be restored at the final Judgment, and we need to have an accurate understanding of the body-soul dynamic.
  • Sin distorts what is inherently good, and we must untwist and undistort our perception to recognize the natural created order.
  • Both body and soul are important and will be with us for eternity in heaven, and the Holy Spirit is meant to be most present and palpable for us in this age of the church, but our perception of the Holy Spirit’s power may fluctuate based on our faith and openness to God.
  • The Holy Spirit is present at baptism and confirmation, but many people do not experience it fully because they are not open and ready to receive it with expectant faith, so it is important for families and godparents to raise children with an awareness of the Holy Spirit’s power and the responsibility that comes with baptism.
  • Cooperate with God and have expectant faith, as there is no limit to what God can do.
• 33:39 Healing takes time and comes in different forms, including physical and spiritual, and requires cooperation with free will and works to bring about the kingdom of God.
  • Healing is not always immediate, it takes time and sometimes happens over the course of days or weeks, and in the experience of Healing Ministry, healing takes different forms because some people come forward for healing but don’t actually want to be healed.
  • Healing is not just physical, but also spiritual, and while some believe illness is a manifestation of sin, others believe in the pursuit of modern medicine as a way for God to work through the hands of surgeons and bring about healing.
  • Some denominations believe that physical suffering is a punishment for sin, but seeking healing from God is not undoing personal sin, it’s making right what sin has done in the world.
  • Expectant faith needs to be accompanied by cooperation with free will and works, as relying solely on God can lead to complacency and inaction in bringing about the kingdom of God in our lives and in the world.
• 37:49 Spiritual gifts from God should be discerned through accompanying signs, as the Church advises against involvement in new age spirituality practices and warns of the potential dangers of opening oneself up to the spiritual realm without protection.
  • Modern medicine is encouraged for healing, but the legitimacy of spiritual gifts from God should be discerned through accompanying signs, as the Church advises against involvement in new age spirituality practices.
  • Practicing spiritual activities like raiki, tarot cards, Ouija boards, and consulting mediums can open one up to both good and bad spiritual influences, with the potential for demonic manifestations and counterfeit gifts.
  • Openness to the spiritual realm can be dangerous without protection, as seen in the real case of a possessed boy who played with a Ouija board, so it’s important to be on guard and not open ourselves up unnecessarily.
  • Different manifestations of demonic activity include temptation, oppression, obsession, infestation, and subjugation, and individuals have the authority to command demonic entities to leave in the name of Jesus.
  • Certain prayers and spiritual warfare books can be used to help deliver oneself or others from possession, but the person must be willing and undergo an interview and evaluation process to determine if possession is the cause of their experiences.
  • Exorcisms are a real and authorized ministry of the church, with minor exorcisms being simple prayers and major exorcisms requiring the authority of a bishop, and individuals with suspicions of possession should be referred to their local parish for help.
• 46:55 Embrace expectant faith and pray for the gift of faith to see the supernatural reality of God in our lives.
  • Baptism is necessary for salvation in Catholicism, as it is the ordinary way to receive the gift of Salvation, and one must remain in a state of grace and do good works to maintain their faith.
  • It is important to consider verses within the context of all of scripture and ensure alignment with everything else, and while encountering and battling demons may not be common, deeper study is still compelling.
  • The Ascension of the Lord is an invitation to explore expectant faith and to not limit the power and presence of God in our lives, as Jesus chose the disciples despite their doubt and difficulty of belief, and he is choosing us as well.
  • Pray for the gift of faith to see the supernatural reality of God in our lives, to be recreated and to overflow into the lives of others.
• Join the weekly Bible study at St Timothy Catholic Church in Laguna Niguel, California, and engage with the community online by liking, commenting, and subscribing to the channel for more content.
• The gospel for Ascension Sunday is from Mark 16:15-20, where Jesus speaks to the 11 disciples after rising from the dead.
• Jesus instructs his disciples to spread the gospel to all, promising that those who believe and are baptized will be saved and will perform miraculous signs.
• Believers will have the power to drive out demons, speak new languages, handle serpents, and heal the sick, as Jesus ascended into heaven and worked with them to confirm the word through signs.
• The significance of the Ascension of the Lord is that it marks the moment when Jesus’s humanity comes into full contact with the glory of heaven and he reigns from heaven, fully glorified, able to work with us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
• The Ascension of the Lord signifies Jesus’ reign in heaven and his power to overcome struggles in our lives if we let him.

• 00:00 True understanding comes from personal experience and vulnerability, as illustrated in “Good Will Hunting.”
• 02:50 The disciples struggled to describe Christ’s transition from physical presence to absence, but the Ascension is a change in Jesus’ mode of presence, not a physical journey into the skies.
  • The disciples struggled to put into words the mystery of Christ’s transition from physical presence to absence, as T.S. Eliot reminds us that words strain and sometimes break under the burden of describing such an experience.
  • The Ascension of the Lord is not a physical journey into the skies, but a change in the mode of Jesus’ presence, and we should not be influenced by artistic impressions of the event.
• 06:08 Jesus’ ascension into heaven symbolizes the intersection of the secular and the sacred, evoking a different dimension of being and communion with the living God.
  • The cloud taking Jesus up into heaven symbolizes the Divine Presence and the intersection of the secular and the sacred.
  • The Ascension of the Lord is not a journey to the stars, but an entry into the mystery of God, evoking a different dimension of being and communion with the living God.
  • Jesus ascended to heaven and is now participating in divine dominion over space.
• 10:35 Jesus’ Ascension signifies his return to the Father, promising to come back and remaining present with us through intimate indwelling.
  • The disciples rejoice at Jesus’ Ascension because he is returning to the Father, preparing a place for them, and promising to come back, indicating that his presence is not changing into absence, but rather the mode of his presence is changing.
  • Presence is not just physical proximity, but a powerful reality that begins when people truly know and love each other.
  • Jesus remains present with us through the concept of being “in” the Father, the disciples, and the world, as emphasized in the Gospel of John.
  • The divine presence is an intimate indwelling, with Jesus in the Father and in us, and the humanity of Christ placed at the heart of the Divinity.
• 16:02 God is omnipresent and His Divine Presence is everywhere, even in the humblest of places.
  • God is everywhere, and we cannot escape from His presence.
  • God chose the humble thorn-bush to teach that there is no place on earth without the Divine Presence.
• 18:25 The Ascension reveals Christ’s new mode of presence as both God and man, allowing his finite soul and limited body to share in the limitless omnipresence and intimacy of God, and his disappearance as a single, visible person is his entry into the Church, where we are all part of the Body of Christ.
  • God is everywhere, but the Ascension reveals Christ’s new mode of presence as both God and man, allowing his finite soul and limited body to share in the limitless omnipresence and intimacy of God.
  • The Ascended Lord is present to us as God, in the Eucharist, and through the Church, and his disappearance as a single, visible person is his entry into the Church.
  • We are all part of the Body of Christ, with Jesus as the head, and are compared to a building and a vine in the Bible.
• 23:22 The gospel of Mark emphasizes the command to believe in and proclaim the good news, which has the power to transform the social landscape.
  • The gospel of Mark begins and ends with the command to believe in and proclaim the good news.
  • The good news of the Risen Lord is a message that alters the climate in which people live and transforms the landscape of social life.
• 26:38 Jesus’ disciples continue his mission to proclaim the gospel, even though he has ascended to the right hand of the Father.
  • Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, known for operas like Madame Butterfly and La Boheme, died before finishing his last opera, Turandot, which was completed by Franco Alfano and premiered at La Scala in Milan.
  • Jesus’ disciples continue his mission to proclaim the gospel, and although he has ascended to the right hand of the Father, he has not departed.
• The movie “Good Will Hunting” illustrates the impact of lived experience on knowledge and the ability to breach defense mechanisms.
• You can know a lot about something, but true understanding comes from personal experience and vulnerability.

FIRST READING & PSALM

• 00:00 Prepare for Sunday Mass by diving into the word of God, celebrate the Ascension of the Lord, and pray a novena leading up to Pentecost.
  • Prepare for Sunday Mass by diving into the word of God to encounter Jesus in a deeper way, especially on the solemnity of the Ascension.
  • The Ascension of the Lord is normally celebrated on Thursday, but in some areas it is transferred to Sunday, 40 days after Easter, and is a holy day of obligation for Catholics in certain areas.
  • Pray a novena for 9 days leading up to Pentecost to prepare for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
  • The prayer for the Ascension of Christ is a time for devout thanksgiving and rejoicing in the unity of the Holy Spirit.
• 03:24 The Ascension of the Lord is the exaltation of Jesus and a reminder of the great things God has done for us through him.
  • The Ascension of the Lord is our exaltation and a reminder of the great things God has done for us through the person of Jesus.
  • The completion of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the Ascension, where he returns to heaven with his human nature after preaching, teaching, establishing a church, and conquering death.
• 05:25 Jesus ascends to heaven, bringing human nature with him and elevating it to a dignity higher than the Angels, giving hope to Christians to share in the divine nature and follow him to heaven.
  • Jesus departs from the father, comes to Earth, and ascends back, bringing the human nature to the father.
  • Jesus brings human nature back up into heaven, elevating it to a dignity higher than the Angels, allowing those in Christ to share in his kingship.
  • The Ascension of the Lord is a day of exaltation and hope for Christians, as we are called to share in the divine nature and follow Jesus Christ, our head, to heaven.
• 07:34 Jesus saves us and the Holy Trinity lives within us, as discussed in Acts 1:1-11, and Jesus tells his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before ascending into heaven.
  • Jesus saved us from destroying powers and now the Holy Trinity lives within us, as discussed in Acts 1:1-11.
  • Jesus tells his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit, and after he ascends into heaven, two men in white tell them he will return the same way.
• 09:34 The first book of Theophilus is addressed to a benefactor, connecting Luke’s Gospel and Acts, with the New American Bible missing some nuances in the original Greek text.
  • The first book of Theophilus is addressed to a person who may have been a benefactor, and the author is writing for this person to have an orderly account.
  • Luke’s Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles are connected, with the Ascension mentioned briefly in the Gospel and explained in more detail in Acts.
  • The New American Bible is a helpful but not fully capturing translation of the original Greek text, as it misses some nuances in the literal meaning.
• 11:58 Jesus continues his ministry through his community, and as baptized Christians, we are called to serve and make sacrifices in various forms of discipleship, seeking guidance from the Lord.
  • The Acts of the Apostles is what Jesus continues to do through his community, working and living in them.
  • If you are baptized and in Christ, Jesus lives in you and wants to continue his ministry through you, whether formally as a priest or informally in the world, and this may require making sacrifices and fasting.
  • The ascension of the Lord may lead to different forms of service and discipleship, and it is important to ask the Lord how he wants to work and live in us.
• 13:58 Jesus proves his realness, instructs disciples to wait for Holy Spirit, foretells their mission, ascends into heaven, and promises to return.
  • Jesus proves his realness by eating real food in the Gospel of Luke and having Thomas touch his wounds in the Gospel of John.
  • Jesus appears to his disciples for 40 days, instructs them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit, and tells them they will receive power to be witnesses for the faith.
  • Jesus foretells the apostles will have to move beyond the city, and they go throughout Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the Earth, while he is lifted up and assumed into heaven.
  • Jesus ascends into heaven by his own power and is assumed into heaven Body and Soul, and the apostles are told to go back and pray because he will return in the same way.
• 16:46 Jesus ascends to the father, promising to return and judge, while God reigns as the great king in the true Temple of heaven.
  • Jesus ascends to the father, with the promise of returning to Earth to judge the living and the dead, preparing believers for his second coming.
  • God mounts his throne in the true Temple of heaven, sitting at the right hand of the father.
  • God is the great king who has defeated death and now reigns over us, and the Feast of the Ascension is a day for us to celebrate.

• 00:00 Jesus gives final instructions to his Apostles before ascending to heaven, as described in the Feast of the Ascension from The Acts of the Apostles.
• 00:57 The Ascension marks the transition from Jesus’ ministry to the early church, linked by the Holy Spirit.
• 01:18 The 40 days symbolize sacred time in Jewish history, and staying in Jerusalem is crucial for salvation.
• 01:51 Angels from the story are the same as those at Jesus’ resurrection, they talk about his return but are ambiguous about when it will happen, and the Holy Spirit will come upon the disciples at Pentecost.
• 02:29 Believers should understand the hope, riches, and power of God, as Jesus was raised from the dead by God’s power and now rules universally for all people.
• 03:38 God’s power and Jesus’ resurrection are central to the understanding of the church and the gospel.
• 03:59 The chapter about Jesus ascending into heaven was added later to Mark’s gospel, and it was not originally included in the gospel.
• 04:40 Jesus’ ascension to heaven and the early actions of the disciples in the Acts of the Apostles.

• 00:00 Jesus ascends to heaven, leaving the apostles to carry on, and the promises of the Ascension are still relevant for us today.
  • Keith Nester discusses the upcoming Sunday readings for the Catholic church, specifically focusing on the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.
  • Jesus ascends to heaven after rising from the dead, leaving the apostles to handle things, and this has significant meaning for us today.
  • The promises of the Ascension are still relevant to us today, and we should study the word to understand its meaning and strengthen our faith.
  • Luke writes the book of Acts to Theophilus, describing the final parting words of Jesus to the apostles.
• 03:44 Jesus instructs his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit, spread his message, and prepares them for his return.
  • Jesus appeared to his apostles for 40 days after his resurrection, instructed them to wait for the Holy Spirit, and then ascended into heaven.
  • Jesus will come back in the same way he ascended, and the disciples are being prepared for what is about to take place in the church.
  • The disciples are told to wait for the Holy Spirit and then spread the message of Jesus from Jerusalem to the end of the Earth.
  • Jesus gives his final command to his disciples before ascending to heaven, leaving them with the promise of his return.
• 07:40 God’s plan is beyond our understanding, but we are promised that Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead, so in the meantime, we have work to do.
  • God leads us one step at a time, giving us what we need in the present moment.
  • Jesus promised to return, but did not specify when, likely to ensure his followers acted in accordance with his plan for them rather than in anticipation of his imminent return.
  • God’s plan is beyond our understanding, but we are promised that Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead, so in the meantime, we have work to do.
  • God mounts his throne to shouts of joy, a blare of trumpets for the Lord, and all peoples are called to sing praises to God.
• 11:46 Jesus is reigning in glory in heaven, fulfilling his mission and empowering believers to fulfill their calling through the Holy Spirit.
  • The speaker reads a passage from St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, discussing the god of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Jesus is seated at the right hand of the father in heaven, reigning in glory and preparing a place for believers.
  • Jesus came to Earth in humility, subjected himself to other people, and is now reigning Supreme in heaven, with the pope as his Ambassador.
  • Jesus has successfully fulfilled his mission, and his immeasurable power is able to work through us and his church, giving us wisdom and revelation to fulfill our calling.
  • Focus on Heaven and Jesus, and let the Holy Spirit empower you to do the work.
• 16:22 God wants to work through you to fulfill the mission of preaching the gospel and performing miracles as part of the Great Commission.
  • You are not alone in fulfilling the mission, as God wants to work through you and has dominion in all ages.
  • Jesus’s final words to his disciples were to go into the world and preach the gospel, with the promise of signs accompanying those who believe.
  • The mission is to preach the gospel, baptize, and do all things in the name of Jesus as part of the Great Commission.
  • The speaker discusses the unusual signs and miracles that will take place in the near future for the Apostles, including speaking in tongues, casting out demons, handling snakes, and drinking poison.
• 20:07 The mission of the Catholic church is to declare the revelation of who God is and is evidenced by miraculous signs, not self-created but received from Jesus.
  • When fulfilling the mission of God, miraculous signs will accompany it, evidenced by the history and current occurrences in the Catholic church.
  • The primary mission of the church is to declare the revelation of who God is, based on the truth of who Jesus is and the Revelation by God.
  • Churches used to have meetings where people would brainstorm and imagine what kind of church they wanted to be, but it’s not as popular now.
  • The church’s mission is not self-created, but received from Jesus, and the church is the vehicle for God’s mission.
• 24:26 Stay close, patient, and focused on the mission, as the Holy Spirit will guide and reveal the next step when ready.
  • Stay together, stay close, and wait for the next step.
  • After Jesus’ Ascension, the Apostles were not supposed to go off and do their own thing, but rather follow the mission given to them by Jesus.
  • The speaker emphasizes the importance of staying together, staying close, and staying patient in order to accomplish more and fulfill the mission.
  • The source of power for accomplishing the mission is the Holy Spirit indwelling in the church, guiding and directing it under the authority of Christ and the apostles.
  • The speaker discusses the hope and assurance of Christ’s return and the role of believers in fulfilling his mission.
  • Stay close to the church, be patient, and focus on staying in the stream of the work that God is doing, as he will reveal the next step when you are ready.
• 31:48 Turn to God for peace, join the rosary crew, and subscribe for more spiritual content.