Learning to be Quick to Listen

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 ...

The Ascension of our Lord, as described in Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, and Acts 1:6-11, is a pivotal moment not just for Christ, but for all humanity. As St. Cyril of Alexandria so profoundly explains, what happened to Christ affects the entire human race. When Christ was raised to heaven, he didn't just go alone; he brought us with him into paradise. He secured a path, smoothed an impassable way, and opened heaven, which was once closed to mortal man. This act was a first for flesh to enter that pure and holy realm, presenting himself to the Father as the " first fruits " of humanity in heaven. The angels themselves were astonished, questioning who this was coming from "Edom"—from the earth. Yet, the Spirit revealed the marvelous wisdom of God, commanding them to open the heavenly gates for the King of Glory. Christ, our Lord Jesus the Messiah, created a "new and living way" for us, entering not into a man-made sanctuary, but into heaven itself t...