THE ASCENSION
On the Mystery of the Day
Preparation - “He ascended above the heavens,” says St. Paul, “that He might fill all things” (Eph. 4. 10). We shall consider, first, how glorious the mystery of the Ascension is for Jesus and for us, and secondly, what precious lessons it gives us. We shall then resolve to detach ourselves from the earth by often looking up to heaven, as the apostles did, and by thinking on the great rewards Jesus there prepares for us, as He promised. “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 4. 2).
I. The Ascension, a Mystery Glorious for Jesus and for Us.
Nothing is better calculated to give us an exalted idea of Jesus than the mystery of His Ascension into heaven. He ascends by His own power and by virtue of His infinite merits, whilst the greatest saints, the Blessed Virgin not excepted, are raised to their thrones only by Him.
But how great His triumph on entering the heavenly Jerusalem! “Lift up your gates, O ye prices,” exclaims the royal prophet; “and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates; and the King of Glory shall enter in” (Ps. 23. 9). Who can describe the transports, the songs of joy and praise that welcome Him! This was the reward for the outrages He received on earth.
“Sit Thou at My right hand,” said the eternal Father, “until I make Thy enemies Thy footstool” (Ps. 109. 1). To be seated at the right of the Almighty, is to be the next to Him. Too see His adversaries under His feet is to possess the empire of the universe, and to command every thing created. What unspeakable power!
But, at the same time, what glory for us! Debased by sin, as we were, could we, Lord Jesus, ever have ventured to hope that our frail and vile nature would, one day, be raised in Thy sacred Person above the highest seraphim, and be seated on the throne next to God’s? But, as a member of Thy mystical body, the Church, shall I not share in Thy glory, if, in union with Thee, I humble myself? Thou didst ascend to heaven from the mountain on which, forty-three days previously, Thou had undergone a cruel agony. Does not this indicate the intimate connection there is between suffering and bliss, between humiliation and the glory of the elect? Deign to enable me to profit by this precious teaching, which so well confirms Thy divine saying: “He that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18. 14). Who ever humbled Himself as Thou didst? Hence Thy exaltation in heaven is above all praise.
After our Savior’s Ascension, two angels foretold to the apostles His second coming as Judge of the living and the dead. This was first, to prove anew the glory of Him whom Pilate dared to judge and to condemn unjustly; and secondly, to admonish us to set a watch over our conduct, of which we shall have to render an account to the Lord before sharing in His triumph and bliss.
O Jesus, enable me to walk unceasingly in Thy holy presence, with a filial fear that banishes all presumption, purifies confidence, and strengthens divine love in us.
II. Lessons Taught Us by the Mystery of the Ascension.
How great a detachment ought to be produced in us by the thought of Jesus, who left the earth to return to heaven? Our amiable Redeemer, who ought to be ever the object of our thoughts and aspirations, took His flight to our future country, and we would yet bind our affections to this sad land of exile, so full of dangers! Oh no, Lord Jesus, I will no longer cling to any thing here below. I will live in this world as a traveler, as a stranger longing again to meet his own people. After St. Paul’s example, I will henceforth look upon every thing earthly as worthless, so that I may forever possess Thee.
But these good sentiments are not sufficient; they must be accompanied by their practice and the acquisition of solid virtue. Far be it from us, therefore, to presume to consider ourselves out of danger, because we daily recite certain vocal prayers; because we lead an edifying life by making meditation, often receiving Holy Communion and frequenting the church. These exterior acts of piety should not give us perfect security. “You shall know them by their fruits,” says our divine Savior (Mat. 7. 20). Let us examine what fruits of self-denial, chastity, patience, and charity are produced in us by our daily spiritual readings and pious meditations. By this sign we shall be able to ascertain whether we are really making progress on the road to heaven. Jesus Christ ascended to heaven only after giving us the example of every virtue.
He said He would prepare us a place there; but we shall secure this place only by constantly preparing it with Him. Would it be too much to strive unceasingly during this short life to deserve endless bliss? Why then should we waste our time in vain thoughts, idle words and useless occupations, a time so precious, that each moment of it is worth an eternity! Of what use to us is our habitual thoughtlessness, our merely natural and human mode of life, which separates us from God instead of uniting us to Him!
O Jesus, detach me from the earth, by constantly recalling to my mind heaven, for which I was created. I am resolved, first, so to conduct myself in this world, as if I were an exile, in which my body were the prison of my soul, and secondly, to consider my own sanctification as the chief object of my solicitude and aspirations, under the protection of Thy Holy Mother, who is also mine.
