by Father Matthew Attia
The Ascension of our Lord into Heaven marks the end not of Christ’s life, but rather, as Saint Gregory the Theologian points out, the completion of his earthly ministry. For forty days after his glorious resurrection Our Lord; appeared, talked, walked, preached and ate with his disciples. Upon ascending, Christ reassured his disciples. Upon ascending, Christ reassured hi disciples with these comforting words: “I am with you always even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Christ’s Blessings
As our Lord parted from his disciples, He blessed them and a cloud received Him our of their sight (Luke 24:51). Consequently we cannot enter into the state of the ascension unless we are blessed. Our hearts must be in a state of forgiveness and true peace, full of compassion and affection for everyone thus we can break loose from the gravity of earth. Ascending to the heavens and tasting its beauty and glory.
Defeating the laws of Gravity
The ascension of our Lord into Heaven differed from that of Saint Mary, Elijah (2 Kings 2:1-12) and Enoch (Genesis 5:24). Christ ascended with His own strength defeating the laws of gravity. “He rode upon a cherub”, says David, “and he flew upon the wings of the wind” (Psalm 18:10-11). Enoch, Elijah and Saint Mary required the power of God to raise them from the earth to the heavenlies. Christ rose and ascended with a glorified body and reigns in heaven. “I am the first and the last. I am He who lives and was dead and behold I am alive forevermore” (Revelations 1:17-18).
It should be made clear that God has no right or left hand. Rather, Christ sat (Settled) at the power and majesty of the Father having successfully and faithfully completed His mission in offering salvation to humanity, thus fulfilling the words of the Psalmist: “The Lord said to my Lord sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your foostool” (Psalm 110:1).
The ‘right hand’ symbolizes power and might. “Your right hand will save me” (Psalm 138:7). “Your right hand upholds me” (Psalm 63:8). We seek God every morning saying: “I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:88).
Heaven
Why did Christ ascend to Heaven? In order to draw us to Him: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself” (John 12:32) and in so doing Christ will prepare a place for us; whereupon He will come again and receive us to himself, “that where I am there you may be also” (john 14:3).
“If then you love been raised with Christ,” Saint Paul urges us “seek the things that are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). To live in the presence of God conscious of the union with Christ that he freely accomplished in us and for us is the essence of the ascension. This consciousness should give us an inner peace that transcends the mind with all its troubles and weaknesses.
The Second Coming
“This same Jesus” said the two angels at the Mount of Olives, “who was taken from you into Heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go into Heaven” (Acts 1:11). Consequently when celebrating the feast of the Ascension we are called to reflect upon and diligently prepare for the Second Coming of Christ, for we do not know “when the Son of Man will come to judge the living and the dead” (Matthew 24:4).
On this great and awesome day we hope that we will hear the voice of the Lord, “Come, you that are blessed by My father, and inherit the kingdom which has been prepared for you since creation”, into glory of heaven, therefore be watchful for “the Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:5).
Between Ascension and Pentecost
In the ten days between Ascension and Pentecost, the disciples remained in the upper room in prayer and fellowship (acts 1:23-25), preparing to receive the Holy Spirit. Further they elected Matthias to replace Judas (Acts 1:23-25).
May we too prepare ourselves to receive the Holy Spirit thus raise our hearts, minds and desires from the vanities of this world to embrace the richness of Heaven where Christ our Lord reigns at the right hand of the Father.
Our spiritual life is a journey to the bosom of the heavenly Father, the more we focus on heavenly riches, the value of this world diminishes; until we live the words of Saint Augustine: “I sat on the summit of the world when I feared nothing and desired nothing.”
Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name”. But his word was within my heart like a burning fire shut up within my bones; I was weary of holding back and I could not” (Jeremiah 20:9).
Last modified: March 17, 2021
