Prayer
The Ascension of the Lord
This Sunday, the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord which commemorates Jesus’ ascension into Heaven. Historically, this holy day has been celebrated 40 days after Easter Sunday – the Thursday in the sixth week of Easter.
Here are two excerpts from a beautiful sermon on the Ascension of Jesus from around the beginning of the fifth century, composed by early church father and bishop St Augustine of Hippo.
Today our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven; let our hearts ascend with him. Listen to the words of the Apostle: If you have risen with Christ, set your hearts on the things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God; seek the things that are above, not the things that are on earth. For just as he remained with us even after his ascension, so we too are already in heaven with him, even though what is promised us has not yet been fulfilled in our bodies.
While in heaven he is also with us; and we while on earth are with him. He is here with us by his divinity, his power and his love. We cannot be in heaven, as he is on earth, by divinity, but in him, we can be there by love.
May we be comforted knowing through His resurrection and ascension, Christ is here with us on earth by His divinity, and we are in Heaven with Him by His love.
Hang Cao
Catholic Identity and Mission Leader