The Ascension

Meditation

Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus leads His disciples to the Mount of Olives. After giving them final instructions and promising the Holy Spirit, He is taken up into heaven before their eyes. This is not a departure but a new way of being present—no longer limited by time and space but accessible to all people in all places through the Holy Spirit.

The Ascension marks the completion of Jesus' earthly mission and His return to the Father in glory. Now seated at the right hand of the Father, Christ serves as our advocate and intercessor, preparing a place for us, as He promised. His humanity, forever united with His divinity, is now present in heaven, giving us hope that where He has gone, we too may follow.

This mystery also inaugurates the mission of the Church. As the angels remind the disciples not to stand looking at the sky, we too are called not merely to contemplate Christ's glory but to actively participate in His ongoing work of redemption by proclaiming the Gospel to all nations.

Christ's Final Instructions

Before ascending, Jesus gave His disciples important instructions and promises:

• The Great Commission: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20)
• The Promise of the Holy Spirit: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
• His Continued Presence: "And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

Reflection Questions

• How does Christ's ascension into heaven affect my understanding of prayer and His presence in my life?
• In what ways am I fulfilling Christ's command to be His witness and make disciples?
• How does the promise of heaven influence my priorities and decisions on earth?
• Like the disciples, do I sometimes "stand looking at the sky" instead of actively participating in Christ's mission?
• How can I better live in the tension between hoping for heaven and serving Christ on earth?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you ascended to the Father in glory, completing your mission on earth and taking your place at the right hand of God. From there, you continue to intercede for us and prepare a place for us in your Father's house. Strengthen my hope in the heavenly kingdom you have promised and help me to set my heart on things above. Yet prevent me from becoming so heavenly-minded that I am of no earthly good. Inspire me to fulfill your Great Commission by witnessing to your love and truth in my daily life. May I live in joyful expectation of your return, working faithfully until that day when I will see you face to face in glory. Amen.

Art and Tradition

The Ascension has been depicted in Christian art since ancient times. Early artwork often showed just Christ's feet disappearing into clouds, with the disciples looking upward. Later, full scenes emerged showing Christ rising in glory, sometimes standing on a cloud or surrounded by angels, with Mary and the apostles below.

The Church celebrates the Feast of the Ascension forty days after Easter (traditionally on Thursday, though in many places now transferred to the following Sunday). It is a holy day of obligation, recognizing the significance of this event in salvation history. In some traditions, the Paschal candle, lit since Easter as a symbol of the risen Christ, is extinguished after the Gospel on Ascension Day, symbolizing Christ's departure from earth. However, the Church continues to celebrate Christ's presence in the Eucharist and through the Holy Spirit.