A Reflection for Friday After the Ascension
Sirach 44:16–27; 45:3–20 | Matthew 25:14–23
As Holy Church continues her novena of expectation between the glorious Ascension of Our Lord and the coming of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, the sacred liturgy on this Friday in the Octave stirs us to meditate on the virtues of faithful service and divine election. The readings from Sirach and the Gospel according to St. Matthew offer us complementary portraits of fidelity: the chosen and anointed priesthood of the Old Covenant and the good and faithful servants who await their Lord’s return.
The Glorious Lineage of the Faithful
The reading from Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 44:16–27; 45:3–20 forms part of the great encomium of the righteous, praising the holy ancestors of Israel. In these verses, the inspired author extols the line of faithful patriarchs and priests: Enoch, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and, in particular, Moses and Aaron. The Lord chose these men not because of their strength or merit, but through His sovereign grace and promise.
“Therefore was there a covenant of peace made with him, that he should be the chief of the sanctuary and of his people…” (Sir 45:24, DR).
Here we see a foreshadowing of Christ, the true and eternal High Priest, and of the New Covenant priesthood established in Him. St. Irenaeus sees in these Old Testament figures types of Christ’s priestly office: “The priests of the former covenant were shadows, but Christ is the reality who has come” (Against Heresies, IV.14.3).
Likewise, St. Augustine observes how God’s election is always gratuitous and aimed at manifesting His mercy: “He chooses not those who are already good, but those whom He makes good by His choosing” (On the Predestination of the Saints, 17).
As we approach Pentecost, we are reminded that the gifts of the Spirit are similarly bestowed upon those whom God calls, empowering them for service in the Church.
The Account of Stewardship
The Gospel (Matthew 25:14–23) presents the familiar parable of the talents, spoken by Our Lord in His eschatological discourse. How fitting to meditate upon this parable in these days after the Ascension! The Lord, like the master in the story, has gone into a far country—He has ascended to the right hand of the Father—yet He will return in glory to judge both the quick and the dead.
“Well done, good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matt 25:21).
St. John Chrysostom highlights that the talents represent not merely natural gifts but the graces and opportunities for virtue given by God: “Let us then not be slothful, for even if thou hast but little, it is possible to profit thereby” (Homily 78 on Matthew).
The period of waiting is not idle; it is a time for spiritual industry. In these days between Ascension and Pentecost, the Church herself models this watchful readiness, gathered in prayer with Our Lady and the Apostles in the Upper Room. We are called to labor in the vineyard, to multiply the gifts we have received, so that when the Lord comes, we too may hear those blessed words of commendation.
The Priestly Character of Christian Service
In both readings, we glimpse the dignity of faithful service—whether in the Levitical priesthood of the Old Covenant or in the manifold stewardship of every Christian disciple. St. Leo the Great reminds us that through Christ’s Ascension and the gift of the Spirit, the entire body of the faithful shares in a royal priesthood:
“Although the actual consecration of priests is a special office, yet all the faithful are made spiritual priests by their baptism” (Sermon 4 on the Ascension).
Thus, as we await the descent of the Holy Ghost, let us be mindful of our vocation to serve, to sanctify, and to witness. Like the faithful patriarchs and priests praised in Sirach, like the industrious servants in the Gospel, we are called to prepare for the King’s return—not with empty hands, but with fruits of grace multiplied through love and fidelity.
Conclusion
The days between Ascension and Pentecost are a season of sacred expectation. The Church, in her wisdom, places before us readings that speak of divine election, faithful stewardship, and the promise of glory. Let us then, under the maternal mantle of Our Lady, persevere in prayer and good works, that when the Lord comes again, He may find us faithful.