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A spiritual, theological, and pastoral guide to understanding and living the mystery of the Ascension in daily life
Introduction: Beyond the Clouds, a Living Promise
In the horizon of the liturgical calendar, forty days after the radiant joy of the Resurrection, the Church celebrates a solemnity that often goes unnoticed, yet it contains one of the most sublime and hope-filled truths of Christianity: the Ascension of the Lord. It is not merely the memory of a spectacular moment when Jesus “goes up to heaven”; it is, above all, the recognition that Christ, the glorious King, enters the dwelling of the Father to prepare our place alongside Him.
This mystery speaks to us of destiny, hope, and mission. It reminds us that we were not created to remain anchored to the earthly, but called to a full life in eternity. Today more than ever, in a world that moves fast and is disconnected from the transcendent, speaking of the Ascension is to speak of meaning, promise, and future.
1. History and Biblical Foundation
The Ascension is mainly narrated in two biblical passages:
- Acts of the Apostles 1:9-11:
“After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'”
- Luke 24:50-53:
“When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.”
Both accounts agree on something fundamental: Jesus does not disappear, He ascends. He does not vanish or fade away, but enters into a new dimension of existence: heavenly glory, the fullness of communion with the Father.
The Ascension is not an escape from the world but the fulfillment of the earthly mission of the Messiah. Having conquered death and sin on the Cross and in the Resurrection, Jesus enters the glory that is rightfully His as the Son of God and Lord of history.
2. Theological Relevance: Christ the King and Eternal Mediator
a. Jesus, the Enthroned King
With the Ascension, Jesus does not abandon His Church: He ascends as King to reign from heaven. This is the image presented by St. Paul in his Letter to the Ephesians:
“God raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion” (Eph 1:20-21).
The Ascension is the coronation of the risen Lord, the moment when His glorified humanity definitively enters into the glory of the Father. From there, He governs history and guides His Church as the Good Shepherd.
b. Jesus, the High Priest and Mediator
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (no. 662) teaches that Christ “entered, not into a sanctuary made by human hands, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. He constantly intercedes for us as the mediator who assures us of the continuous outpouring of the Holy Spirit.”
This means that, from heaven, Jesus does not cease to intercede for us. He is our advocate, our defender, our High Priest who presents our lives before the Father.
c. Christ Prepares a Place for Us
Jesus Himself had promised it:
“In my Father’s house there are many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).
The Ascension is the fulfillment of that promise: Christ opens the gates of Heaven for us. He is already there, as the Firstborn from the dead, so that we too may follow Him.
3. Spiritual and Existential Implications
a. We Are Pilgrims, Not Permanent Residents of This World
The Ascension reminds us that our true homeland is in Heaven (cf. Phil 3:20). This life, with all its beauty and challenges, is a journey, not the final destination. Living this mystery means learning to view the ordinary through eternal eyes, to live with hope even in the midst of pain, knowing that Christ has already triumphed and is waiting for us.
b. Our Bodies and Our Humanity Are Called to Glory
Christ does not ascend to Heaven as a mere spirit, but with His resurrected body. This means that our humanity is not despised, but elevated. Our body, our emotions, our history: all are called to total redemption. This dignifies every aspect of our lives and invites us to care for our bodies, temples of the Holy Spirit.
c. Called to Live with “Feet on the Earth and Eyes on Heaven”
The angels in Acts 1 say it clearly: “Why do you stand looking into the sky?” The Ascension does not invite us to escape, but to live with a sense of mission. Jesus ascends, but sends us forth to evangelize, to transform the world, to be witnesses of His Kingdom.
4. Theological and Pastoral Guide: How to Live the Ascension Daily
1. Renew Your Hope
- Remember every day that Christ reigns and governs from Heaven.
- In times of personal, social, or ecclesial crisis, proclaim with faith: Jesus Christ lives and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
- Pray the Creed attentively, letting the words “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father” become a source of peace.
2. Offer Your Life as a Spiritual Offering
- Unite your daily routine to Christ’s: your work, your fatigue, your joys.
- Each morning, say: Jesus, I offer You this day; present it to the Father as a living offering.
3. Seek the Things That Are Above Without Neglecting Those Below
- St. Paul exhorts: “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Col 3:1).
- This does not mean despising the earthly, but living it from an eternal perspective.
- Cultivate moments of silence, prayer, and contemplation of the heavens (literally and spiritually), to remember what you are called to.
4. Be Active Witnesses of the Kingdom
- The Ascension sends us to continue Christ’s mission.
- In your family, work, or community, be a sign of the Kingdom of God: through justice, charity, service, and faith.
- Ask yourself: How am I already preparing my dwelling in heaven with each decision I make?
5. Celebrate Liturgically and Live Sacramentally
- Participate in the Eucharist with your heart centered on Heaven: there we are, mystically and truly, with Christ.
- Receive Communion with the awareness that you are united to the glorified Risen One, and that in every Mass you share in His Kingdom.
5. The Ascension in Today’s Context: An Urgent Call to Look Higher
We live in times of uncertainty, individualism, wars, abrupt social changes, and a loss of transcendence. The Ascension comes as both a balm and a compass:
- It reminds us that we are not alone: Christ reigns.
- It consoles us: He intercedes for us and awaits us.
- It commits us: we have a concrete mission in this world.
- It orients us: Heaven is our true homeland, and we are just passing through.
The Ascension is, in a way, the antidote to hopelessness. If Jesus has triumphed and is with the Father, then history has meaning, our lives have direction, and our faith is not in vain.
Conclusion: Let Us Ascend with Christ, Even from the Earth
Christ does not ascend to heaven to distance Himself from us, but to be even closer through the Spirit. He does not abandon the world, but governs history and prepares the eternal banquet.
May each of us, with feet firmly planted on the earth but hearts in Heaven, live the Ascension for what it truly is: a living promise, a call to holiness, and a foretaste of the glory that awaits us.
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt 6:21).
Let our treasure be in Heaven, where Christ precedes us as King and Brother. And may our lives, united to His, be an active preparation for the day when, by His grace, we hear His voice calling us by name to the place He has prepared for us.
