The Ascension of
Our Lord Jesus Christ
The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ stands as one of Christianity's most profound mysteries, marking not an ending but a glorious beginning. Forty days after His Resurrection, Jesus led His disciples to the Mount of Olives, where He blessed them and was taken up into heaven before their eyes. This moment, recorded in Luke's Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, reveals the divine truth that Christ's earthly mission was complete, yet His eternal reign had just begun. As the disciples watched their Master ascend in glory, they witnessed the fulfillment of His promise that He would go to prepare a place for them. The Ascension confirms that Jesus, true God and true man, has opened the gates of heaven for all humanity and now sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us always.
In ascending to heaven, Jesus Christ calls each of us to follow Him on this upward journey. The path of discipleship is not merely about earthly good works, but about allowing our hearts and minds to be lifted toward heavenly things. Saint Paul reminds us to "seek the things that are above, where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1). This call to rise with Jesus requires a fundamental transformation of our priorities and desires. We are invited to participate in the divine life through prayer, the sacraments, and acts of charity that mirror Jesus Christ's own love. Following Jesus means embracing the cross as our pathway to glory, understanding that our temporary sufferings pale in comparison to the eternal weight of glory that awaits us.
The Ascension also reveals our missionary calling as Catholics. Just as Jesus sent His apostles to be witnesses "to the ends of the earth," we too are commissioned to share the Good News of salvation. The disciples did not remain gazing into the sky but returned to Jerusalem with great joy, ready to receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Our evangelization flows from the joy of knowing that Christ has conquered death and opened heaven's doors. This message of hope speaks to every human heart longing for meaning, purpose, and eternal happiness. We evangelize not from a position of judgment but from one of profound gratitude, sharing the treasure we have found in Christ with those who are still searching.
The feast of the Ascension reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven, even as we live faithfully on earth. Christ's ascension is our ascension; where He has gone, we hope to follow. This reality should fill us with both humility and confidence—humility because we recognize our complete dependence on God's grace, and confidence because we know that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. As we celebrate this great feast, let us renew our commitment to following Jesus daily, allowing His Spirit to lift our hearts above worldly concerns and guide us toward our eternal home. The ascended Christ continues to walk with us through the Eucharist, Scripture, and the community of the Church, making our journey to heaven not a solitary struggle but a shared pilgrimage of faith, hope, and love.
An Ascension Poem
Upon the Mount of Olives high, our Savior blessed and said goodbye,
His earthly mission now complete, He rose to His eternal seat.
The disciples watched in wonder there, as Christ ascended through the air,
To sit beside the Father's throne, and claim the glory as His own.
Now called to follow in His way, we lift our hearts to Him each day,
No longer bound by earthly things, but soaring high on Heaven's wings.
Through prayer and sacrament we rise, our treasure stored beyond the skies,
The cross our pathway to the light, where Christ prepares our home so bright.
As witnesses we're sent to share, the joy of Christ with all who care
To hear the news of love divine, that makes each searching heart to shine.
Not judging but with grateful voice, we tell the world they have a choice
To follow Him who conquered death, and gives to all eternal breath.
Our citizenship in Heaven lies, though here on earth we work and strive,
The ascended Christ walks with us still, through Eucharist and Gospel's thrill.
With humility and confidence, we trust in His benevolence,
Until that day when we shall see, His face for all eternity.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
