He parted from them and was taken up to heaven

At 1,1-11; Ps 46; Eph 1,17-23 opp. Heb 9,24-28; 10,19-23; Lk 24,46-53
2 JUNE

In Scripture there are different ways of singing, narrating and celebrating the Ascension of Jesus to heaven, in his glorious, immortal, incorruptible and spiritual body. Saint Paul announces the Ascension of Christ the Lord as the true fruit of his humiliation and annihilation.

Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2,6-11).

The Apostle John sings the Ascension describing the glory of Lord Jesus. The Apocalypse is all a hymn to the Universal Lordship of the Immolated Lamb, the Crucifix that is the Eternal Living. The Father has delivered his whole kingdom to him.

Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lamp stands and in the midst of the lamp stands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest. The hair of his head was as white as white wool or as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame. His feet were like polished brass refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing water. In his right hand he held seven stars. A sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth, and his face shone like the sun at its brightest. When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead. He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.

In the Book of the Prophet Daniel it is narrated that one like a son of man is presented to the Old Man and he receives from him glory and the eternal kingdom. All are subjected to his Lordship and his dominion. The whole universe has been handed over to him.

As I watched, Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed (Dn 7, 9-10.13-14).

The Evangelist Luke marvellously combines mission and Ascension. Jesus ascends to Heaven after having opened the mind of his disciples to the intelligence of his mystery as it is contained in the Scriptures and having given them the mission of announcing the conversion and forgiveness of sins in his name. But the disciples must not leave immediately for the mission. They have to wait for the Father to fill them with his Holy Spirit.

And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And (behold) I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them (out) as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.

With the Ascension of Jesus, the visible mission of Christ Jesus ends and the visible mission of the Apostles begins. As the Father and the Spirit were with Jesus and guided him in his work, so now the Father, the Holy Spirit and Christ Jesus will be with the disciples for the mission entrusted to them. As Christ never separated himself from the Father and the Holy Spirit, so the disciples will never have to separate themselves from Christ.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints ensure that the disciple of Jesus is never separated from his Master.