My dearest brethren in Christ, grace and peace be with you this glorious Thursday morning, as the sun doth rise upon another day gifted by our benevolent Creator. We find ourselves yet within the sacred Octave of Our Lord’s Ascension, a profound period wherein the Church’s gaze, often fixed upon the terrestrial, is now firmly directed towards the celestial. Let us, therefore, with hearts afire, ponder the unfathomable mystery of Christ’s glorious ascent.
The Throne of Our Humanity
Forty days after His triumphant Resurrection, our Blessed Savior, in the full splendor of His glorified Body, ascended into heaven, taking His rightful seat at the right hand of the Father. This was no departure into absence, but rather an elevation into a new, more profound mode of presence. Consider, beloved souls, the immense dignity bestowed upon our fallen humanity in this act! For in Christ, our very flesh and blood, redeemed and sanctified, now sits enthroned in the heavenly courts, crowned with glory and honor. He has gone, not to abandon us, but to prepare a place for us, to be our perpetual Advocate, interceding ceaselessly before the Father on our behalf.
This truth should fill our souls with an unshakeable hope and courage. Our High Priest, who has passed through the heavens, knows our infirmities, for He Himself was tempted in every way, yet without sin (cf. Heb 4:14-15). He is our eternal anchor, drawing our hearts ever upwards, reminding us that though we walk by faith and not by sight, our ultimate home and destiny lie beyond the veil, with Him in glory.
Pilgrims with Heavenly Hearts, Missionaries with Earthly Feet
Yet, while our hearts are anchored in heaven, our feet remain on earth. This Octave of Ascension, leading us swiftly towards the Solemnity of Pentecost, is a potent reminder of our dual calling. We are pilgrims in this world, journeying towards the New Jerusalem, but we are also missionaries, tasked with making His Kingdom present here and now. Our Lord’s final command before His ascent was precisely this: to go and make disciples of all nations (cf. Mt 28:19). How then, can we reconcile this heavenly gaze with our earthly labor?
It is precisely because our Head is in heaven that our mission on earth gains its ultimate meaning and power. We do not labor in vain, nor do we strive in our own strength. Rather, we are instruments of the Ascended Lord, empowered by His grace, and acting as His hands and voice in the world. The heavenly glory of Christ illuminates our path, giving purpose to every act of charity, every prayer, every word spoken for the Gospel. We are called to live with a foot in two worlds – our hearts burning with divine love for what is above, our hands busy with works of mercy below.
Awaiting the Advocate: A Time of Holy Expectation
The time between Ascension and Pentecost is a profound period of waiting, an interval of intense prayer and communal anticipation. Like the Apostles gathered in the Upper Room with the Blessed Virgin Mary, we are called to foster a spirit of unity and ardent longing for the promised Paraclete, the Holy Spirit. It is this Divine Advocate who will descend to empower us, to teach us all things, and to remind us of all that Christ has taught (cf. Jn 14:26).
This waiting is not passive idleness, but an active, hopeful preparation. It is a time for introspection, for purifying our intentions, for deepening our prayer life, and for strengthening our bonds of charity within the Mystical Body of Christ. For it is the Holy Spirit who will ignite within us the fire of divine love, granting us the courage and wisdom necessary to carry out the missionary mandate of our Ascended Lord. Let us, therefore, pray with renewed fervor, asking Him to send forth His Spirit and renew the face of the earth, beginning with our own souls.
“It was fitting that Christ should ascend to heaven because as our Head He had to enter into glory, thereby opening the way for His members.” – St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, III, q. 57, a. 6, ad 1.
Let this truth resound in our hearts today. Our Savior has gone before us, paving the way. Let us live with our eyes fixed on Him, our Glorious Head, ever ready to receive the Spirit of His Love, that we may bring His light to every corner of the earth. May our lives be a testament to His victory, radiating the joy and hope of His heavenly Kingdom.
O Divine Lord, Ascended into Glory, grant us the grace to lift our hearts perpetually unto Thee. Strengthen us in our earthly pilgrimage, fill us with holy expectation for the promised Spirit, and empower us to be Thy faithful witnesses until Thou comest again. Amen.