Jesus Ascends into Heaven

This Sunday, we celebrate the solemnity of Jesus’ Ascension into heaven. This dogma (teaching) is the 6th of the 12th articles in the Profession of Faith. Ascension is the" entry of Jesus’ humanity into divine glory in God’s heavenly domain, forty days after his resurrection.” (CCC, Glossary) This final stage of Incarnation of Jesus was witnessed by the apostles themselves. With their eyes on the Lord being “carried up” or “taken into” or “going back or entering into” the heavenly domain, there was great joy and momentary sadness and grief.

For thirty-three years of physically presence with them, including three years of public ministry, we do understand how they felt. Jesus recognized their feelings by saying, “Grief had filled your hearts.” But continued to say to them, “I have to go so that the Holy Sprit will come to you and I will send him to you.” (Jn. 16: ff) Jesus must go so that the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, the Advocate, the Paraclete can in turn come to us and be with us until the end of time. Now, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father with glory and honor and dominion. We just wait fullness of time that He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.