As the Church journeys through the radiant days of the Easter season, we arrive at a moment that can seem, at first glance, like a conclusion: the Ascension of Our Lord. Forty days after His Resurrection, Jesus returns to the Father, ascending before the eyes of His disciples. It is a scene marked by awe and mystery, and perhaps even a touch of sorrow. One might be tempted to think: this is the end. Yet the Church, in her wisdom, teaches us otherwise. The Ascension is not the end of Easter—it is a celebration within it, a vital step toward its fulfillment.
Easter is not confined to a single day. It is a season—a sustained proclamation that Christ is risen, that death has been conquered, and that new life has begun. The Resurrection stands at the center, but it is not the end of the story. The Risen Lord continues to act, to teach, and to prepare His disciples. The Ascension is one of these divine acts. It is not a departure into absence, but a transformation into a new and deeper mode of presence.
When Jesus ascends, He does not abandon His people. Rather, He completes His earthly mission and opens the way for something greater. As He tells His disciples, “It is better for you that I go” (John 16:7). These words, difficult as they may have been to hear, reveal a profound truth: His Ascension makes possible the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Here is the key to understanding this mystery: the Easter season does not end with the Ascension. It continues—intentionally and powerfully—until Pentecost. The Ascension is not a closing chapter, but a turning point within the Easter season. It lifts our gaze forward. Like the disciples who stood looking toward heaven, we too are reminded by the angels’ words: “Why are you standing there looking at the sky?” (Acts 1:11). The Christian life is not meant to be static or nostalgic. We are called not only to remember, but to move forward in Faith.
The Ascension also reveals our destiny. Where Christ has gone, we are called to follow. Our humanity, united to His divinity, now sits at the right hand of the Father. This is not cause for sorrow, but for hope. Heaven is not an abstraction, but a promised home where we all long to go one day.
Yet even as our hearts are lifted heavenward, our mission remains firmly rooted on earth. Before His Ascension, Christ gives His disciples a command: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The Ascension is a commissioning. It entrusts to us the work of continuing His presence in the world.
The days between Ascension and Pentecost are not empty. They are filled with prayer, expectation, and preparation. Like the Apostles in the upper room, we are called to await the Spirit with trusting hearts.
In a world marked by uncertainty, the Ascension offers clarity and hope. Christ reigns! He is not distant, but interceding for us. And He calls us to be His witnesses in the world today.
By Fr. Richard Breton