CHRIST GLORIFIED BODY
The Solemnity of Ascension of the Lord is the feast of the Risen Christ with a glorified body taken up to heaven and now sitting at the right hand of God forever. It is plain from Scripture that Jesus’ ascension was a literal, bodily return to heaven. He rose from the ground gradually and visibly, observed by many intent onlookers.
As the disciples strained to catch a last glimpse of Jesus, a cloud hid Him from their view, and two angels appeared and promised Christ’s return “in just the same way that you have watched Him go” (Acts 1:11).
THE MYSTERY OF ASCENSION
The Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven is one of the Christian feasts that offers us; hope, assurance, and promise of the finality of our Christian life as Heaven-bound people.
It is a mystery deeply shrouded in the mystery of the resurrection. At the resurrection, Christ’s body became a glorified body that is no longer limited by the law of space and time of the universe.
OUR THEME OF TODAY
The major theme of the Feast of Ascension is one of Christian hope, faith, and love. First, Jesus prepared his followers to live in, for, and on the Word of God and the Eucharist. Second, he commissioned them to be his witnesses from familiar places to unknown places. Finally promised an eternal presence through the Holy Spirit- the Advocate, Comforter, and Santificator of our Christian faith and life.
FIRST READING: ACTS 1:1-11
The first reading vividly describes for us the account of Jesus’ ascension to glory forty (40) days after his resurrection. The number 40 in the biblical context is significant; purification for a sense of impurities, preparation for an encounter with God, and transition into something better.
The period between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension was 40 days (Acts 1:3). When he purified his disciples of the erroneous views of him, his message of the kingdom and confusion of the resurrection. He also prepared them for his departure and the coming of the Holy Spirit. As well as, the transition from him to the apostolic witnesses him.
The psalmist reminds us in Psalm 47 that the Ascension of the Lord was in the context of sadness, fear, and despair. It calls also for the celebration of great joy, hope, and anticipation of the Holy Spirit. Hence, he acclaims to us, “God goes up with shouts of joy, the Lord goes up with trumpet blast. “
SECOND READING: EPHESIANS 1:17-23
St Paul makes us understand that Christ’s victory is also our victory. Hence, God has raised Jesus from the dead a glorified body, and exalted him above every created or existing being. It is a privilege to belong to his body and the church.
St Paul emphasized the work of God in Christ Jesus through the action of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the revealer of God´s wisdom and the fullness of God´s revelation. The giver of Christian hope and the riches of a glorious inheritance. It is also the power of the God of gods to transform all things in Christ Jesus.
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE BODY OF CHRIST
In this biblical passage of St Paul´s letter to the Church of Ephesus, we see him inviting the Church to love Christ as well as their Christian brothers and sisters. However, he also prays for the church:
He prays for the Spirit of Wisdom. That is for the Church to be led deeper and deeper into the knowledge of the eternal truths.
Paul prays for a fuller revelation and a fuller knowledge of God. For the Christian growth in knowledge and grace is essential
He prays for a new realization of the Christian hope. It is a characteristic of the age in which we live that it is an age of despair.
He prays for a new realization of the power of God. For Paul, the supreme proof of God´s power above all things visible and invisible was the resurrection
Paul finishes by speaking of the conquest of Christ in a sphere, which does not mean so much to us today. For him, God has raised Jesus Christ “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion and every name that is named,” there is not a being in heaven or on earth to whom Jesus Christ is not superior.
THE GOSPEL: MARK 16:15-20
The Gospel of today notes that before the glorified body of Jesus Christ was raised to heaven. The mystery of our faith we celebrate as the Ascension of the Lord he gave his disciples his last words or testament. The resurrected Christ:
(1) Gave his disciples a mission to go and to teach and proclaim the Good News to all, as well as baptizing and trying to save everyone. The Church has the task of preaching and healing to all, to restore them to: the grace, mercy, and love of God.
(2)He gave them all power and authority over all things with promises of signs and wonders they will perform, and the evil they will overcome. The Church has a source of power and authority to act on behalf of the departed or ascended Christ.
(3) He made them see his ascension and take possession of his rightful place and glory at the right of God as the ascension of the Church and its members is only possible through the glorification of the resurrection, like Christ since only a glorified body can ascend to heaven.
(4) Christ promised to work and be with them and to confirm their testimonies with signs, miracles, and promises. The Church is never left alone to do its work. Always Christ works with it and in it and through it. The Lord of the Church is still in the Church because She acts with the Lord of power.
CONCRETE LESSONS FROM THE CELEBRATION OF THE ASCENSION
1) We need to be proclaimers and evangelizers of the Gospel of Christ Jesus.
2) We need to live a life of Christian Joy in the presence of the ascended Lord.
3) We have a teaching, preaching, and healing mission
4) The ascended Jesus is our source of strength and encouragement.
5) It is a mystery and feast of undying hope of life everlasting in heaven
THE MYSTERY OF THE ASCENSION FROM SCIENTIFIC AND MYSTIC STANDPOINT
Newton´s law of gravitational force states that any two masses attract each other with a force equal to a constant (constant of gravitation) multiplied by the product of the two masses and divided by the square of the distance between them. In other words, anything lifted or thrown from the ground certainly returns to the ground.
It is difficult to explain the mystery of the Lord´s Ascension to heaven body and soul. However, there is a scientific and a mystical explanation of this mystery that is plausible and probably faultless.
From the scientific perspective, the only thing that defies the law of gravitational force is the ray of light which is the lightest thing on earth that travels up and if without obstruction or deflection does not come back.
Mystically, too, a transformed celestial or glorified body like that of the Resurrected Christ freed from sins and the corruption of the body is as light as the ray of light to ascend without deflection or falling off from the sky.
THE IMPLICATION FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND LIFE
The implication, then, for all Christians is that the resurrection uplifts us from sins and corruption and as such we are heavenly bound without gravitational pulling to the earth. Hence, we all can escape the black hole theory of Hell pulling everything towards itself and the only thing that can escape its pull must be lighter like the ray of light. That is a glorified body free of sin and death through the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Conclusion: A life without sin is the only life with the hope of the resurrection of the body and ascension to heaven in Christ Jesus.
It calls for a moment of prayer, to be still, and to wait for the power from above the Holy Spirit.
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, you were crucified and by your resurrection, you live forever, and also by your ascension, you are in your glory, seated at the right hand of God and reigning forever. Give us the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit: faith, hope, love, joy, peace, assurance, and courage, and by the mysteries we celebrate may our lives be transformed so that we may not only fulfil your last testament but also complete the mission you entrusted to us. May your resurrection and ascension be everlasting proof that devil, evil, sin, and death cannot hold you or us bound to hell. Amen
