Forty days after Easter Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. While often seen as a quiet moment between the joy of the Resurrection and the fire of Pentecost, Ascension Thursday is much more than a transition. It is a cornerstone of our Christian hope.
As recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus, after appearing to His disciples and speaking to them about the Kingdom of God, is “lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight” (Acts 1:9). His Ascension does not mark the end of His presence but the beginning of a new way of being with us. Christ does not leave us behind; He goes ahead to prepare a place for us. He brings our humanity into Heaven.
St. Leo the Great reminds us, “Christ’s Ascension is our uplifting, and the hope of the body is raised, where the glory of the Head has gone before.” In other words, where He has gone, we hope to follow.
The mystery of the Ascension may seem distant, yet its meaning is deeply personal. It assures us that our lives are not limited to the present moment. Jesus is not absent. He is present in a new and powerful way, calling us to live with Heaven in our hearts while remaining faithful to His mission. Before ascending, Jesus gave His disciples a task: to be His witnesses “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). That call remains ours today.
On this Ascension Thursday, let us lift our eyes not only to Heaven but also to those around us who are still longing for the Good News. The risen Lord, now seated in glory at the right hand of the Father, intercedes for us. And we, as His Body on earth, continue His work with joy and confidence, trusting that He is with us always, even to the end of the age.
By Andrea DePaola