2 June 2011: The Ascension of the Lord

40th day of Easter: Thursday after the 6th Sunday of Easter or the 7th Sunday of Easter

St Luke relates: “And he led them out as far as Bethania; ... lifting up his hands he blessed them: ... it came to pass while he blessed them, he departed from them and was carried up into heaven.” (24:50-51)

He was “taken up into heaven and sits at the right hand of God” (Mk 16:19). “While they watched, he was raised up, and a cloud took him out of their sight; while they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly, two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven? This Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet.” (Acts 1:9-12)

Let us try on this great feast, to gaze with the eyes of our mind upon Jesus rising slowly, making his triumphal entry into heaven, advancing to the foot of his Father’s throne attended by celestial spirits, and receiving a glorious crown and power over his enemies.

“Sit thou at my right hand, until I make Thy enemies Thy footstool.” (Ps 110:1) Let us ask him to draw our hearts to himself, and to raise our thoughts and affections to heaven, that we may dwell there in spirit.

The disciples returned to Jerusalem, with great joy; and yet they had just suffered the pain of a most bitter parting. What explains this joy? Their Divine Master has returned to his kingdom as a Conqueror.

On his entrance into heaven he opened its gates which the sin of our first parents had closed. By thus exalting his human nature, he ennobled ours, and made it capable of contemplating the divine nature. He had promised to intercede with his Father: “I go to prepare a place for you. ...” (Jn 14:2)

Let these be also the motives of our joy. Let us meditate devoutly on them and, as our Lord promised, “your joy no man shall take from you” (Jn 16:22).

Amidst whatever difficulties, we will exclaim, “I exceedingly abound with joy in all our tribulations”. And again, “Knowing that as you are partakers of his sufferings, so shall you be also of his consolations” (cf 2 Cor 1:5-7).

Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp270-72

Jesus awaits us in heaven

The last gesture of Our Lord on earth was to give a blessing. (cf Lk 24:51) The Eleven had gone, as Jesus had told them, to the mount of Olives near Jerusalem. On seeing the risen Christ once more they fell down before him as their Master and their God and “worshipped him” (cf Mt 28:17).

Now they are much more conscious of what they had for some time believed in their hearts and confessed with their lips: their Master is the Messiah. (cf Mt 16:18) They were joyful at having their Lord and God so near. After the forty days spent in his company they could be witnesses to what they had seen and heard. The Holy Spirit would confirm in them the teachings of Jesus.

The Master spoke to them as only God can: “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt 28:18). Jesus confirmed their faith and taught them the power they were to receive was a sharing in his divine power: to forgive sins.

To bring about a rebirth through Baptism is the power of Christ, given now to his Church. The mission of the Church is to continue the work of Christ, to teach men divine truths and make known the demands these truths impose, to help men follow God’s way through the grace of the sacraments.

“He said to them ... ‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth’.” (Acts 1:7-9)

The Apostles remained looking up as Jesus ascended majestically into the cloud signifying the presence of God (cf Ex 13:22; Lk 9:34 ff) “... Jesus had entered Heaven”. (St John Chrysostom, “Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles”, 2)

Jesus’ life on earth ended with his Ascension, not with his death -- the last of the mysteries of his life on earth. Together with his Passion, Death and Resurrection it makes up the Paschal Mystery. It was fitting that those who saw Christ die amid insults, scoffing and mockery on the Cross should now see him exalted.

“Today’s feast reminds us that our concern for souls is a response to our Lord’s command of love. As he goes up to Heaven, Jesus sends us out as his witnesses throughout the whole world. Our responsibility is great, because to be Christ’s witness implies first of all that we should try to behave according to his doctrine, that we should struggle to make our actions remind others of Jesus and his most lovable personality.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 122)

Jesus departs, but he remains close to all: in the Tabernacle. Let us visit him there though often we can do so only with our heart; and ask his help in our apostolate. To make known his teaching everywhere.

The Apostles returned to Jerusalem in the company of Mary and awaited the Holy Spirit. Let us prepare for the coming of Pentecost also staying close to Our Lady.

Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:531-2

In Christ the Visible World is Created Again

Our spirit is set in one direction, for our intellect, will and heart: towards Christ the Redeemer of man. We wish to look towards him repeating what Peter said: ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’

We must constantly aim at him “the head”, “through whom are all things and through whom we exist”, “the way and the truth” and “the resurrection and the life”, and who had to go away from us by his death on the Cross so that by his Ascension into heaven the Counsellor should come and keep coming to us as the Spirit of truth. In him are “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”, and the Church is his Body.

Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp249-50

Ten Day Devotion to the Holy Spirit

Introductory Prayer -- Come, O Holy Spirit! Enlighten my understanding in order to know your commands; strengthen my heart against the snares of the enemy; enkindle my will ... I have heard your voice, and I do not want to harden my heart and resist, saying, “Later ... tomorrow.” Nunc coepi! Right now! Lest there be no tomorrow for me.

O Spirit of truth and of wisdom, Spirit of understanding and of counsel, Spirit of joy and of peace! I want whatever you want; I want because you want; I want as you want; I want whenever you want ...

Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “Prayer to the Holy Spirit”. In Postulation for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization, “Historical Registry of the Founder of Opus Dei” 20172, p145.

Consideration: 1st Day

The First Novena -- Immediately after the Ascension the Apostles returned to Jerusalem, and as commanded by their Divine Master, remained in the upper room with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and one hundred-twenty disciples.
They continued in prayer, expecting the coming of the Holy Spirit, during ‘nine’ days. From this was derived the practice of preparing for certain great feasts by a novena of prayers and good works.

The novena of Pentecost was first made by the Apostles, so that it is not only apostolic, but may even be called of divine institution, since the Apostles made it in obedience to a formal command of Jesus Christ. How excellent must it be then, and with what devotion we ought to observe it.

Why did Jesus command his Apostles to pray as such? That they might dispose and prepare themselves to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, without which they would have remained forever what they were then: nothing in themselves, useless to others, absolutely incapable of fulfilling their sublime vocation; but with these gifts all would become possible, even easy.

We make this novena with extraordinary fervor for the same reasons, for certainly we are not greater than the Apostles. We are not better able than they were to dispense with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, and to fulfil the duties of our vocation; to achieve that degree of perfection required of us, and to save the souls of others both by word and work.

Jesus gave a third motive to encourage a more careful preparation for receiving the Holy Spirit -- the wickedness of the world, the miseries and snares in their midst, and the expected persecutions. “In the world you shall have distress; you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake; they shall deliver you up to councils, and in the synagogues you shall be beaten; they will lay their hands on you and persecute you.” (cf Luke, 21:12, 25; Mark, 13:9)

We, too live in days of tribulation and the rage of the wicked against the religion of Jesus Christ. Where shall we seek the supernatural courage and prudence to fight these threats? Only from the Spirit of counsel, fortitude, and piety!

Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp272-4

Concluding Prayer

Holy and divine Spirit! Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your spouse, bring the fullness of your gifts into our hearts. Comforted and strengthened by you, may we live according to your Will and may we die praising your infinite mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ref: Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ (Editors), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p2080

• Our Lady of Edessa, in Asia Minor. It is asserted that this image, placed beneath the gateway of a church, spoke to St Alexis, and made known to the people the merit of that saint. Thence it was removed to Rome, where it is highly honored. — Thomas Blosius, lib. ix. c. 9. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Edessa. Turkey. 400. Statue that spoke to St Alexis. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Edessa, Asia Minor in honor of the statue that spoke to St. Alexis (400). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Edessa (Asia Minor, 400). (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Our Lady of Edessa (Asia Minor). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Installation of the Robe of the Mother of God (Orthodox). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)