Christ’s Ascension and Promise

Every Sunday in the Nicene Creed, we say: “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.”  When we meditate on the Ascension of Jesus into the heavens (for example, in the Second Glorious Mystery of the Rosary), we might have this image in our minds of Jesus going into the clouds, waving “bye-bye” to His disciples — almost an anti-climactic moment in the life of our Lord.  However, let us take for a moment what Jesus says before he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight (Acts 1:9): “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).  Jesus is reminding the disciples that He has universal power.  Furthermore, He speaks about His own [past] suffering and death before He ascends into heaven (Luke 24:46).  The Catechism of the Catholic Church 662 teaches: “The lifting up of Jesus on the cross signifies and announces His lifting up by His Ascension into heaven.”  Pope Francis, when reflecting on what the Ascension means in the Christian life, said that “to enter into the glory of God exacts daily fidelity to His will, even when it requires sacrifice, when it requires at times that we change our plans.”

Before He ascends to the Father, “Jesus raised his hands, and blessed them” (Luke 24:50).  This is a priestly action, and the disciples respond with faith by kneeling and bowing their heads.  As Eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ intercedes for us before the Father (see Hebrews 10).  Pope Francis preached, “We have One who always defends us. He defends us from the insidiousness of the Devil, He defends us from ourselves, from our sins!”  Christ further assures His disciples: “And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).  And, and then [they] returned to Jerusalem with great joy (Luke 24:52).  In one week, we will celebrate the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise, not as something 2,000 years ago, but as the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity alive and active today.  What do we want to receive from the Holy Spirit this year?  This week, in your meditation, I encourage you to ask the Lord for the spiritual gift you want this year: It might be joy; it might be a virtue; it might be a stronger devotion to daily Mass and Adoration; it might be a greater flexibility when our plans are not God’s plans.  Whatever your spiritual desire, ask with great devotion and sincerity.  You never know. . . you might receive a spiritual gift that changes everything.