Ascension

This coming week we will be celebrating the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. Jesus has risen and now ascends into heaven to take His seat at the right hand of His Father. As the Responsorial Psalm for the feast recounts: “God mounts His throne to shouts of joy; a blare of trumpets for the Lord.” However, as with so many of the Mysteries of our faith, there is more at work than just the historical event of Jesus ascending into heaven. 

What do we really see happening in this event? Jesus is returning to His Father in heaven, yes; but He is doing so while still united to His human nature. It is His human nature that allows us to be in communion with Him, and so the Ascension is Jesus taking us up to heaven with Him! In the Ascension, we can see ourselves seated at the right hand of the Father in Christ Jesus, over and above all of the angels and other heavenly hosts! As St. Maximus of Turin puts it: “There is an upward movement in the whole of creation, each element raising itself to something higher…. In one and the same movement, our Savior’s passion raises men from the depths, lifts them up from the earth, and sets them in the heights.” 

It is important to remember that everything we see taking place in Christ is something promised to us as well, so long as we remain faithful to Him. Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so will we be; just as Jesus rose into heaven above all the angels, so will we be taken up; just as Jesus is seated on the throne of heaven, so will we be seated alongside Him. 

In fact, Mary herself becomes the final promise that this will take place. Mary’s Assumption into heaven, body and soul, and being crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth is God’s final promise to us that these things will be given to us as well. We simply need to remain faithful to Him. May we remain faithful to Him always, so that one day we may live and reign with Him forever and ever!