Lesson for the Ascension of the Lord

The Lord is Interceding for Us, Forever

My dear brothers and sisters, after forty days of being with the disciples after his Resurrection, which we have celebrated during these forty days of the Easter season, Jesus has crossed into Heaven to take his place at the Father's right hand, as the prophecies foretold for the Messiah. The Father has crowned him with the glory he merited by his Passion, Death, and Resurrection, and in turn, he is eternally asking the Father for each of us–by name–to receive the graces we need to join him one day in eternity and to help others get there too.

In today's First Reading Saint Luke recalls why he decided to make his writings a two-volume set. The work of salvation is not done until everyone has an opportunity to be saved. The Lord's Ascension is just as important for the Church as his Incarnation, Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Like the disciples in today's First Reading, we are awaiting the Lord's return in glory, but we also know that in Ascending to Heaven, he is not just sitting up there on his hands.

He and the Father are preparing to send the Holy Spirit to his Church, just as we await on Pentecost Sunday a week and a half from now, and then our part in his saving work goes into high gear, as attested to by the Acts of the Apostles. Our Lord also speaks on our behalf to the Father for all eternity, interceding for us. We need the whole Trinity's help in fulfilling our mission throughout history: to help Our Lord in Heaven to continue his saving work on earth. In today's Second Reading St. Paul reminds what Our Lord won through his victory over sin and death. 

Preparing to ascend, he told his disciples that all authority had been given to him by his Father (see Matthew 28:18). He doesn't just rest on his laurels. He puts that influence to work for us and our efforts to help share his Gospel with the whole world.

In today's Gospel Our Lord imparts a blessing even as he is taken up into Heaven. He doesn't stop imparting blessings, even today. In a little over a week, he'll impart once again the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Easter season is longer than any other season except for Ordinary Time, and before his Ascension, the days he spent, risen from the dead, were some of the most precious on earth for his faithful disciples. It was quality time just for them. He's looking forward to spending that quality time with us in Heaven, and from eternity he is doing everything in his power to make sure that happens. As the Easter season nears its conclusion in ten days, we too should be rejoicing as we recall all the blessings he has imparted to us during these forty days. We should also rejoice over the blessings to come.

The Man in Charge

Usually, when you have a problem that involves customer service, there are layers and layers of intermediaries running interference for the man in charge. Every call is screened to see if it can be resolved by someone lower down on the chain of responsibility. Many companies hope you won't even try to contact a human being at all ("read the instructions," "search our Knowledge Base," etc.). Even the phone system is a maze. With Our Lord, you have the man in charge entirely at your disposal, 24/7, with an infinite attention span because he is God. He is in complete unity with the Father, so there's no risk of interference whatsoever. The only catch is that you must listen too. You may not get the answer you want, but you know it is the right answer.

Armchair Director, Armchair Coach

Have you ever watched a movie and identified so much with a character that you started saying, "Yes, do that!" or "What, are you crazy? No!" Have you ever watched a sporting event and armchair coached, encouraging or lamenting the actions undertaken or the decisions made by players and coaches? Imagine Our Lord looking down from Heaven at us right now, each one of us. He's God so he can give each of us more of his attention span that any director or coach could. He is cheering us on and encouraging us in everything we do, as well as trying to prevent us from blowing it. Unlike we armchair directors and coaches, he can reach right into our lives and put us back on track if we let him.

Count Your Lenten and Easter Blessings

If you don't feel you've received any special blessings this Lent and Easter, it may be that you are not looking hard enough. Eighty-six days (from Ash Wednesday to Ascension Thursday) is a long time to have not received anything special from Our Lord. The Holy Spirit is already around. Ask the Spirit to help you recall the blessings you've received in these days so that the joy you've experienced this Easter season continues throughout the year.

Ask, Or Even You May Not Know What You Need

The Lord taught us that the Heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask, but sometimes we don't know what we need, and we don't ask either. Just as you talk things out with a friend or loved one when you're making an important decision, talk things out with Our Lord. He'll help you see what you really need.