Christ’s ascension into heaven marks the end of his ministerial journey on earth, and celebrates the beginning of the new role his Father has given him as Lord over all, to sit by his right hand, God’s hand, in heaven as Priest, Prophet and King.
It is of such importance to our belief in God, our Christian Faith, that every Sunday we proclaim: “He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father, Almighty. In the Apostles’ Creed, we claim: From there he will come to judge the living and the dead,” and in the Nicene Creed: “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.” Luke tells us, Jesus was “lifted up” and taken out of sight by a cloud, something our modern, logical sensibility can find difficult to understand or even accept. But what is important is we realize it IS a ‘mystery’, something unexplainable in human terms, yet undoubtedly a sign of incredible, mystical power and super-natural ability which goes far beyond human capabilities. This, in-turn, should instill in us a profound security, a great relief in knowing something much greater than us is in charge, indeed our Creator, who in his wisdom and will is capable of anything. Yet, Christ does not abandon us. He gives us instructions through his disciples to continue his work, to obey his commandments, and to preach his gospel throughout the world, assuring us he will always be with us, and will return on the last day. But where did he go? Scholars suggest Luke used analogies or symbolism to represent the fantastical event: clouds often represented the unknown, the mystical, up was heaven, down was hell, and the sky, the firmament, was heaven. Clearly, Christ seems to have entered an ethereal state which liberated him from space and time, the constructs and foundations of the earth, which allowed him to exist in a perpetual existence of presence with all creation, just as he promised us. And the Holy Spirit seems to be coincident with this transformation, the Spirit of Truth which would come, and has already come to each of us thru Confirmation. This is why there is a sense of comfort when loved ones leave us in death, because as Christ told us and demonstrated by his resurrection, death is Not the end, but merely a new beginning, a change to a different state. We never die; we just change. This confidence in the resurrection and the ascension should give us peace and joy to know those we have lost during the pandemic are still alive. They have merely changed, and gone home when it was their time, just as Christ did. This is why it is such a joy to have our Faith, our Church, our Saviour, Jesus, with us always and everywhere just as he promised, at our side as our very best friend, wherever we go. Therefore, it is easy for us to wait patiently for the reopening of our places of worship – because Christ is already with us every moment of every day. Meanwhile, many of us might ponder what heaven is, what is it like? Kathleen Norris explores heaven in her book, “Amazing Grace”. She shares with us a dream in which she was seated at the Lord’s heavenly banquet table which stretched into infinity. Many people were seated at the table from different times and places, practices and vocations: poet, Emily Dickinson sat next to St. Therese of Liseux with theologian, Soren Kierkegaard, seated across from them. A whole line of Dalai Lamas sat across from Kathleen’s good friend, a Benedictine Monk, who was good-heartedly grumbling about having to wear his cassock for eternity. Meanwhile, family and friends and a host of historical and unknown figures chatted and celebrated cheerfully down the entire length of the unending table. But are we to dwell on heaven? At least beyond preparing for it while on earth? Kathleen points out that God’s angels certainly thought not! “’Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ As if to say, take a look around; your work is here!” In other words, Jesus has given us work to do. So, we must get to it! Strangely, yet satisfyingly, this rational side of a most irrational event ironically makes the Ascension event even more plausible and believable! It’s like mom telling us to stop gawking at the night sky, and put the garbage out at the curb; or the teacher telling us to stop daydreaming and put pen to paper. We are here to complete Christ’s assignment here on earth, and to help each other finish the job. Mind you, someone once said, that “all work and no play makes a dull boy.” And maybe that someone was St. Augustine who gave us the following good advice for the challenging time we are now facing when doing God’s work might be awkward or difficult to do from our various isolated situatios: St. Augustine recommends this to live by: “Let us sing ‘alleluia’ while here on earth, though we still live in anxiety, so that we may sing it one day in heaven in full security. … God’s praises are sung both here and here, but here they are sung in anxiety – there, by those destined to live forever; here they are sung in hope – there in hope’s fulfillment; here they are sung by pilgrims – there, by those living in their heavenly land. So, then, … let us sing now, not in order to enjoy a life of leisure, but in order to lighten our labours. You should sing as pilgrims do – sing, sing out, but continue your journey. … Sing then, but keep moving toward heaven’s door.” Rev Fr Christopher Tracey, Pastor Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Parish Saugeen Shores, Ontario
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Father's Blog
Rev. Fr. Christopher Tracey
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