Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

On the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, we celebrate the moment when Christ’s visible presence on earth concludes so that His universal, sacramental presence might begin. As He ascends to the right hand of the Father, He does not abandon our human nature; rather, He brings our humanity into the very heart of the Godhead, opening the path for us to follow.

The Great Commission given to the Apostles—to go and make disciples of all nations—is the foundational mandate of the Church. This mission is coupled with a profound promise: “I am with you always, until the end of the age.” This enduring presence is realised through the Church’s teaching and, most pre-eminently, through the Most Holy Eucharist.

The Ascension is not a departure into a distant corner of the universe, but an entry into Divine Power. From His heavenly throne, Christ exercise His High Priesthood, interceding for us and pouring out His grace upon the faithful. St. Leo the Great noted that after the Ascension, what was visible in our Redeemer has passed over into the Sacraments. Our faith is now called to a higher level; we no longer see Him with our eyes, but we recognize Him through the eyes of faith and the life of the Church.

For us, this feast is a call to “holy longing”. While we must remain diligent in our earthly duties and the work of evangelisation, our hearts must be anchored in heaven. We live as citizens of two worlds, working to build up the Kingdom here while looking forward to the day when we shall see Him as He is.