Ascension - Date Varies
Ascension (Forty Days after Easter)
Why the Ascension of Jesus Matters
People are hopeful about the future, trusting that their plans and their achievements will produce a great future for themselves and others:
What about Your Future? What Do You Want?
People answer these questions in different ways:
- I plan to work my butt off to get into the career of my choice. There’s so much money to make and so much I want to accomplish in life.
- I’m going to college and maybe grad school, and then I’ll get my dream job, my dream spouse; we’ll get settled in our cozy, dream house and have children, and then we’ll enjoy a happy and fulfilled life together.
- I’ve worked hard, saved my money, contributed to a diversified portfolio of investments, and given generously to those in need, and so I expect to have a worry-free and enjoyable retirement.
But even with the best made plans, things don’t always go as we intend. Whether the blame is placed on poor decisions, bad timing, or just bad luck, the future doesn’t always turn out like we planned.
One important reason to think about the Ascension of Christ into heaven is that it tells us something about our reality right now, even today. We don’t have to wait to see how the story ends.
We are living that story as we speak, and always by faith in Christ alone.
The Apostle Paul, speaking from a prison (Colossians 4:18 “Be mindful of my chains.”) to other Christians and declaring to them that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are only to be found in Christ (Colossians 2:1-3), encourages reflection on our connection to Jesus (who is our Head - 2:19), and he is talking about those of us who are in fact buried with Christ in Baptism and raised with Him (2:12), made alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses and the “uncircumcision of our flesh” (2:13). We are firmly to seize and take hold of the Head (Christ) and never allow any other false hopes be placed before our eyes to draw us away from the true hope only to be found in Christ (2:14-23).
But then Paul adds something that should astound all of us Christians saved by God’s rich grace in Christ. Here’s how Paul continues in chapter three:
Our Life Today Is Not What It Appears
{1}If therefore you all were raised with Christ, continue seeking those things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Ponder those things that are above, not those things on the earth. For you all died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ appears—Christ who is our life—then you all also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)
The Ascension of Christ speaks to our reality, showing us what life together in Christ means in the present moment. So, in the midst of all the challenges and difficulties of implementing the vision of our life’s plans, we should pause to consider what Christ has accomplished for us. The Ascension of Jesus into heaven means that our life together is found there in the heavens with Christ. His endeavor on the Cross has secured our hope for the future. And it is a future that begins right now!
Join us as we celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord, and ponder the mystery of our hidden life in Christ. Set your mind on your true life, which is our shared life together in Christ. This true life is only to be found in Jesus Christ, crucified, risen, and ascended.
Christ Is Life
{6}And Jesus said to [Thomas], “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father, except through Me.” (John 14:6)
Holy Mass
Holy Mass is celebrated at 6 p.m. EST on
The Ascension of Our Lord.