Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.
The Roman Canon, the first Eucharistic Prayer, gives a special insert for today’s celebration: “Celebrating that most sacred day on which your Only Begotten Son, our Lord, placed at the right hand of your glory our weak human nature, which he had united to himself.”
Our celebration takes us to scripture, which according to the Book of Acts: “Appearing to them during forty days…he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.”
And so through this celebration we now look towards Heaven. Here we come to realize that Christ has died and risen and has now been joined to His Father in the Kingdom of Heaven. He triumphed over sin and death and is now placed at the right hand of the Father.
The Apostles had traveled with Christ and they were taught by Christ and even they did not fully understand what Christ was teaching them. In Verse 6 of Acts they ask: “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” This question shows their lack of understanding because they awaited the restoration of an earthly Kingdom, but were unable to look up towards the Kingdom of Heaven.
Christ instead instructs them in verse 8: “You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” From our Gospel: “(He) raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.”
Therefore, today we are to look upwards towards Heaven. It is easy to get caught up in our daily undertakings. It is easy to get caught up in our earthly affairs. It is easy to lose hope with the passing of health and thus being forced to face the reality of one’s own mortality. No matter where we find ourself on this day we are too elevate our sight with Christ towards the Kingdom of Heaven.
Christ was joined with His Father in Heaven on this day and now we have the opportunity to raise our sight to Him. He has not left us alone in this world to embrace our struggles as if left all alone, but He is present with us at this time and hour. He is with us through the example of our life, He is with us through our neighbor, and most of all He is with us in the Eucharist.
May we therefore elevate our sight to Heaven this day. May we realize that Christ continues to dwell with each of us. As He did His apostles He blesses us and sends us forth to be witnesses to all the world. May we be witnesses of our faith and may we allow Christ to transform our heart and soul as we raise our sight towards Heaven.
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