The Significance of the Ascension: Reflecting on Christ’s Glorious Return to the Father
Introduction:
According to Sacred Scripture, Jesus appeared to His Apostles forty days after His Resurrection, speaking to them about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). On this very day, forty days after Easter, the Church commemorates the Ascension of Christ, a pivotal event often overlooked but deeply intertwined with our faith. As we turn to Our Blessed Mother for intercession, it is fitting to take a moment and reflect upon the profound significance of this momentous occasion.
The Ascension: A Key Component of Christ’s Saving Work:
The Ascension holds a central place in our Creed and is celebrated as the Second Glorious Mystery. It marks the day when Jesus, forty days after His Resurrection, ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father. While the Incarnation revealed the humble act of God taking on human flesh, the Ascension demonstrates the perfect union of our humanity with God’s Divinity through the hypostatic union. In Jesus, we find the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and only through Him can we approach the Father.
Entering the Heavenly Realm:
By ascending bodily into Heaven, Jesus has brought human nature into the realm of divinity. As members of Christ’s Mystical Body, we are granted the hope and possibility of joining Him in Heaven. This wondrous ascent allows us to aspire to the heavenly heights, inspired by the knowledge that our Head, Jesus, has already ascended there.
The Intercession of the True High Priest:
The Epistle to the Hebrews enlightens us about Jesus as the true High Priest who has ascended and intercedes on our behalf before the Father. With such a perfect High Priest, we can hold steadfast hope for our salvation. Even in a world marked by sin, as forewarned by Our Lady of Fatima, we must never lose faith in the intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Blessed Mother advises us to contemplate the mystery of the Ascension through the prayer of the Rosary, allowing our hearts to remain centered on the Lord.
Conclusion:
The Ascension of Christ holds immense significance in our faith, representing the culmination of His saving work and the union of our humanity with divinity. As Jesus ascended into Heaven, He ensured our hope of eternal life and became our eternal Intercessor before the Father. In a world plagued by sin, we must never waver in our faith but instead turn to Our Lady of Fatima’s guidance, contemplating the mystery of the Ascension through the Rosary. Let us keep our hearts centered on the Lord, knowing that through His Ascension, He has prepared a place for us in the heavenly realms.
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