Skip to main content

We Are More Than Compost In Waiting

The Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord, often overshadowed by its transfer to a Sunday later in the Easter season, holds profound significance for understanding humanity's destiny. This pivotal event, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us (CCC 659-667), marks the completion of Christ’s earthly mission and his glorification at the right hand of the Father. Far from a mere spatial departure, the Ascension is a "transhistorical reality," an event that opens a window into the ultimate purpose of human existence. It signifies that human nature, assumed by Christ at the Incarnation and glorified in his Resurrection, is now incorporated into the very life of the Triune God. As the Church Fathers consistently taught, what Christ accomplished in his humanity, He accomplished for all humanity, offering us the hope of sharing in His divine life.

The importance of the Ascension is amplified in our current cultural moment, which grapples with a crisis in the very idea of the human person. In a world increasingly prone to reducing humanity to mere biological matter, as exemplified by practices like "natural organic reduction," the Ascension stands as a powerful counter-narrative. This feast reminds us that we are not merely "congealed stardust" or "compost-in-waiting," but creatures of a loving Creator destined for glory. The Catechism underscores this by explaining that Christ’s Ascension is "our exaltation" (CCC 665), meaning that "where the Head has gone before in glory, the Body is called to follow in hope." This hope is not a vain fantasy, but a divine promise that we, who ally ourselves with Christ, will follow him into the Father’s house (John 13:36, 14:2).

Therefore, celebrating the Ascension is crucial for cultivating a truly humane view of the person, one that underwrites personal happiness and social solidarity. It corrects the distorted anthropology that views humanity as an accidental outcome of biochemical forces, instead affirming our inherent dignity and divine calling. The Ascension completes the narrative of God's redemptive plan, pointing us toward a future where creation is brought to fulfillment in the "new Jerusalem" (Rev. 21:2, 4), where "death shall be no more." By reflecting on this great feast, the Church reasserts the truth of human destiny: not oblivion or fertilizer, but eternal life in the glory of God.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Woman, Behold Your Son

The spiritual climax of the Gospel of John, as Father John Waiss points out, occurs at the foot of the Cross, where Jesus utters his parting words: “Woman, behold, your son!” and “Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27). While these words were addressed to the Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, the Church has long understood this moment as a universal adoption. To truly image Christ, we must share in His parentage; if we embrace God as our spiritual Father but reject Mary as our mother, we treat Christ as a half-brother rather than our "firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:29). As Origen noted as early as the third century, the profound depths of the Gospel are only accessible to those who, like John, rest their heads on Jesus’ breast and receive Mary into their own homes. This maternal role is deeply rooted in biblical typology, positioning Mary as the fulfillment of the great mothers of the Old Covenant. She is the New Eve , the mother of all the living according ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Praying With The Five Wounds Of Jesus

I am just beginning to dive into the beautiful, ancient devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus, and I wanted to share a bit of the journey with you. It can feel a little overwhelming at first to look at the Crucifix this closely, but I’ve found such a gentle guide in St. Bernard of Clairvaux . In his Jubilee Rhythm on the Passion, Bernard doesn't treat the wounds of Jesus as distant historical facts or sights to be avoided. Instead, he approaches them with the tenderness of a friend, speaking directly to the feet, hands, side, and face of our Lord. For someone like me who is just starting out, his rhythm teaches that prayer isn't just about reciting words; it’s a holy hide-and-seek. Bernard invites us to literally hide ourselves within these wounds, seeing them as clefts in the rock where we can find shelter when our own lives feel turbulent or heavy. As I start this process, I’ve been practicing what I call gazing and greeting. Following Bernard’s lead, I look at the Crucifix an...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Gentleness of a Doctor: St. Anthony’s Devotion

St. Anthony of Padua is widely revered as the "Hammer of Heretics" and a "Doctor of the Church," titles that suggest a formidable and perhaps distant intellectual. However, the heart of Anthony’s ministry was a profound, tender love for the person of Jesus Christ that transcended mere academic study. For Anthony, Christ was not just a theological concept to be defended, but a living presence to be embraced. This deep intimacy was the engine behind his legendary preaching; he didn't just speak about the Word, he spoke from a place of friendship with the Word. His life serves as a beautiful reminder that the greatest heights of wisdom are always reached through the simplest acts of love and humility. This interior devotion is most famously captured in the ubiquitous image of St. Anthony holding the Infant Jesus. This iconographic tradition stems from a mystical event late in his life while he was staying at the home of a friend, Count Tiso. The Count peered throug...
Post a Comment
Read more