Ascension of our Lord
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
St. Thomas Aquinas, in his small catechism (The Aquinas Catechism), presents three ways in which Christ’s ascension was profitable for mankind.
First, by way of a leader, Christ ascended in order to lead men to heaven. Before Christ mankind had no leader, no guide, but now Christ has guided the way. Moreover, the way was closed until Christ opened the way and showed it to us.
Second, by way of increasing our confidence, Christ ascended in order to make intercession for us, and so we read in St. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, “He is able… to save forever them that come to God by Him, always living to make intercession for us.” (Hb 7:25); and in another place, “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the just.” (1 Jn 2:1)
Third, by way of detaching us from earthly things, Christ ascended to draw our hearts to Him, and so we read in St. Matthew’s gospel, “Where thy treasure is, there also is thy heart also.” (Mt 6:21)
By His ascension,…
Christ has opened the way to heaven and has prepared a place for us in heaven;
Christ has a seat at the right hand of God the Father where He intercedes for us;
Christ has shown us where we must place our hearts.
We are so busy doing things, achieving, making progress that we can forget what life is all about, preparing to meet God in heaven. The Ascension of Jesus reminds us that we are ‘only passing through’ here, as we say. We are pilgrims on a journey. Just as Jesus’ earthly life was temporary, came to an end, and he ascended to sit at the right hand of the Father, so also our lives here are temporary, will come to an end and we will meet God in our eternal life. The Ascension of Jesus reminds us in all of our busyness not to forget what life is all about. One of the lines in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, our second reading today it is a prayer; so beautiful and relevant.
May God our Father...enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. (Eph 1:18-19)
Before Jesus ascended, he entrusted his mission to the Apostles and disciples saying, “Go out to the whole world, proclaim the good news.” That mission was entrusted not only to priests and religious, but to everybody, to you. You are called by Jesus to preach the Good News where you live and work. As you carry out the Lord's mission Paul's advice to the Ephesians is a most beautiful guide for living and ministering in the name of God to others. Let us not be so busy that we forget about God. yes dear brothers and sisters
May God our Father...enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
St. Thomas Aquinas, in his small catechism (The Aquinas Catechism), presents three ways in which Christ’s ascension was profitable for mankind.
First, by way of a leader, Christ ascended in order to lead men to heaven. Before Christ mankind had no leader, no guide, but now Christ has guided the way. Moreover, the way was closed until Christ opened the way and showed it to us.
Second, by way of increasing our confidence, Christ ascended in order to make intercession for us, and so we read in St. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, “He is able… to save forever them that come to God by Him, always living to make intercession for us.” (Hb 7:25); and in another place, “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the just.” (1 Jn 2:1)
Third, by way of detaching us from earthly things, Christ ascended to draw our hearts to Him, and so we read in St. Matthew’s gospel, “Where thy treasure is, there also is thy heart also.” (Mt 6:21)
By His ascension,…
Christ has opened the way to heaven and has prepared a place for us in heaven;
Christ has a seat at the right hand of God the Father where He intercedes for us;
Christ has shown us where we must place our hearts.
We are so busy doing things, achieving, making progress that we can forget what life is all about, preparing to meet God in heaven. The Ascension of Jesus reminds us that we are ‘only passing through’ here, as we say. We are pilgrims on a journey. Just as Jesus’ earthly life was temporary, came to an end, and he ascended to sit at the right hand of the Father, so also our lives here are temporary, will come to an end and we will meet God in our eternal life. The Ascension of Jesus reminds us in all of our busyness not to forget what life is all about. One of the lines in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, our second reading today it is a prayer; so beautiful and relevant.
May God our Father...enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. (Eph 1:18-19)
Before Jesus ascended, he entrusted his mission to the Apostles and disciples saying, “Go out to the whole world, proclaim the good news.” That mission was entrusted not only to priests and religious, but to everybody, to you. You are called by Jesus to preach the Good News where you live and work. As you carry out the Lord's mission Paul's advice to the Ephesians is a most beautiful guide for living and ministering in the name of God to others. Let us not be so busy that we forget about God. yes dear brothers and sisters
May God our Father...enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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