Ascension of Jesus Christ
Second Glorious Mystery of the Rosary
Introduction
The Ascension of Jesus Christ marks the completion of His earthly mission and His return to the Father in heaven, occurring forty days after His Resurrection. Leading His disciples to Bethany, Jesus blessed them and was taken up into heaven, signifying His glorification and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. This event bridges His earthly ministry and the establishment of the Church, as He commissions His disciples to spread the Gospel and promises the Holy Spirit to empower their mission.
The Ascension assures believers of Jesus’ authority, the glorification of humanity in Him, and the hope of eternal life. It also points to the promise of His return in glory, making it a moment of triumph, commissioning, and anticipation for all Christians.
Scripture of the Ascension of Christ
Now whilst they were speaking these things, Jesus stood in the midst of them, and saith to them: Peace be to you; it is I, fear not. But they being troubled and frightened, supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them: Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me to have. And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and feet.
But while they yet believed not, and wondered for joy, he said: Have you any thing to eat? And they offered him a piece of a broiled fish, and a honeycomb. And when he had eaten before them, taking the remains, he gave to them.
And he said to them: These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then he opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. And he said to them: Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead, the third day: And that penance and remission of sins should be preached in his name, unto all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. And I send the promise of my Father upon you: but stay you in the city till you be endued with power from on high.
And he led them out as far as Bethania: and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. And it came to pass, whilst he blessed them, he departed from them, and was carried up to heaven. (Luke 24: 36-51)
The Scriptures of the Ascension Explained
Luke 24:36-51 describes two important post-resurrection appearances of Jesus and concludes with Christ’s Ascension. This passage illustrates the reality of the Resurrection, the fulfillment of Scripture, and Jesus’ commissioning of His disciples.
1. Jesus Appears to His Disciples (Luke 24:36-43)
As the disciples are discussing Jesus’ earlier appearances, He suddenly stands among them, saying, “Peace be to you” (Luke 24:36). This greeting reassures them, but they are initially terrified, mistaking Him for a ghost. Jesus addresses their doubts by showing them His hands and feet, marked with the wounds of the crucifixion, and invites them to touch Him to prove that He is not a spirit but truly risen in bodily form.
To further confirm His physical Resurrection, He asks for something to eat and consumes a piece of broiled fish (Luke 24:42-43). This act demonstrates that He is alive in a glorified yet tangible body. Through this, Jesus reassures His disciples that His Resurrection is real, fulfilling His earlier promises.
2. Jesus Explains the Scriptures (Luke 24:44-47)
Jesus reminds the disciples that everything written about Him in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled. This triad represents the entirety of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament). He opens their minds to understand how these Scriptures point to His death and Resurrection as fulfilling God’s salvific plan.
Jesus explains that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer, die, and rise on the third day and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. This explanation grounds the disciples’ faith in the Word of God and commissions them to proclaim the Gospel.
3. The Great Commission and Promise of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:48-49)
Jesus declares the disciples as witnesses to His life, death, and Resurrection. He then promises to send the Holy Spirit, whom He refers to as the “promise of the Father.” The Spirit will empower them to carry out their mission to spread the Gospel to all nations. Jesus instructs them to remain in Jerusalem until they are “clothed with power from on high,” which will occur at Pentecost (Acts 2).
4. The Ascension (Luke 24:50-51)
In the final verses, Jesus leads the disciples to Bethany, lifts His hands, and blesses them. While blessing them, He is taken up into heaven. This act signifies the completion of His earthly mission and the beginning of the disciples’ mission to continue His work. The Ascension marks Jesus’ exaltation, where He takes His place at the Father’s right hand.
Four Theological Themes of the Ascension
- The Reality of the Resurrection: Jesus’ appearance, physical wounds, and eating of fish underscore the bodily Resurrection, a central tenet of the Christian faith.
- Fulfillment of Scripture: Jesus connects His life, death, and Resurrection to God’s covenantal promises in the Old Testament.
- Mission and Witness: The disciples are charged with spreading the message of repentance and forgiveness, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus’ Divinity and Authority: The Ascension demonstrates Jesus’ divine nature and His role as Lord over heaven and earth.
Eleven Disciples and Women Who Witnessed the Ascension
(Acts 1:12-14 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition)
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount that is called Olivet, which is nigh Jerusalem, within a sabbath day’s journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Jude the brother of James. All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Feast Day of the Ascension
The feast day for the Ascension of Christ is the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord in the Catholic Church and is considered a Holy Day of Obligation. It commemorates the event of Jesus ascending into heaven, as described in Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:9-11, and is celebrated 40 days after Easter Sunday. This timing reflects the biblical account of Jesus spending 40 days with His disciples after His Resurrection before ascending.
Traditionally, the Feast of the Ascension is observed on a Thursday, exactly 40 days after Easter, often referred to as Ascension Thursday. However, in some countries or dioceses, the celebration is transferred to the following Sunday to allow more of the faithful to participate and is referred to as Ascension Sunday.
The feast highlights the culmination of Jesus’ earthly mission, His exaltation to the right hand of the Father, and the promise of the Holy Spirit. It also emphasizes the hope of His Second Coming, as proclaimed by the angels in Acts 1:11. Liturgically, the day is marked by readings from Acts 1, Ephesians 1, and the Gospel accounts of the Ascension, along with prayers and hymns celebrating Christ’s heavenly reign.
The Feast of the Ascension is one of the most ancient feasts of the Church, with its celebration dating back to the 4th century. It reminds Christians of their call to live as witnesses of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit while awaiting His return in glory.
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Last Publish: December 24, 2024