05/28/2025
THIS THURSDAY 6TH WEEK OF EASTER SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD YEAR C
READINGS: ACTS 1:1-11, PSALM 47, EPHESIANS 1:17-23, LUKE 24:46-53
ASCENDED TO SAVE
• He stays closest to us
• He's not distanced from us
• He watches over us more vigilantly
• He blesses us more profoundly
• He protects and saves us better
• He'll send us the advocate to stay with us forever
Jesus had earlier suggested that he'd ascend to the Father: In John 6:62 he says, "What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending where he was before?". And to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection he said "Do not hold me, for I am yet to ascend to my Father" (Jn. 20:17). Also he said in John 3:13 that no one has ascended to the Father but he who descended from him. This solemnity therefore, is everything but alien to us who believe in Christ and have journeyed with him all along.
The Ascension of Jesus into heaven (Ascensio Iesu) is the earthly departure of Christ from earth into the presence of God. Acts of the Apostles 1:9-11 shows Jesus going up into heaven after giving his disciples a valedictory charge. This solemnity is traditionally celebrated 40 days after Easter (commonly on a Thursday). In Christian art, this solemnity is captured with utmost importance especially for the Church Militant. Christ is sketched as taken up in a cloud and with HIS HANDS OPENED AND LOWERED ON THE CHURCH - HIS DISCIPLES: MEANING, HE EMPTIED HIS HEARTY BLESSINGS UPON THE CHURCH.
Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51, and Acts 1:9, capture the solemnity. In all these accounts, we see a master who loves his children so much that he wouldn’t leave them WITHOUT COUNSELLING THEM SERIOUSLY. He not only taught them, he BLESSED SAME TEACHINGS IN THEIR HEARTS. He also promised them power from on high when they receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) and according to him, this Spirit will aid their witnessing of him to all the world.
Today, I am proud of my belief and conviction in the Catholic Church who has Christ as her author and company (he's with her to the close of the age Matt. 28:20). I am so proud to be Jesus' disciple for he alone sustains my faith and enhances my journey towards my own ascension back to the Father. Also, whenever I remember that my master is seated closest to God, by his right; my pride heightens. Because then I realize that my friend, brother, saviour and Lord who knows me and understands my humanness is right where my security lies, so, I can only go about my life without fear.
May the ascended Christ save us from the manaces of insecurity, poverty and bad governance, Amen.
