Monday, June 1, 2015

The First Fruit of The Ascension



‘If I do not go, the Advocate will not come’’ (Jn 16:7). Jesus’ ascension opened way for the Holy Spirit to come. His ascension was not a departure; He ascended but still present in the Spirit and the Eucharist. With His Ascension, humanity now has a sure reference in God. Our pleas can be heard through Jesus. Again His ascension asserts the universality of salvation!

While we are looking upwards waiting for the Holy Spirit, the Virgin is already full of the Holy Spirit. She is the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. It implies that she is already sharing in the fruits of the Ascension, which includes the universality of her motherhood. She is the Mother to all of whom Jesus is the Saviour.

Mary cannot exercise her universal motherhood if limited by time and space. So, being assumed into Heaven, she shares closely to Jesus' Ascension. Her life is closely tied to that of Jesus. Being in God, body and soul, Mary shares in extra ordinary way in the merits of Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension. Her participation enlivens our hope that we too shall be who she is already.

Being in God, and only in God, can she exercise her universal motherhood on all the faithful. Thus, it is through the power of God that Mary can hear the prayers of her children all over the world. Her apparitions and interventions in the lives of the faithful are possible because of her insertion in the power of God as the Daughter of the Most High, Mother of the Son and Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Thus her motherly care glorifies the Lord as the Most High lifts her up in her lowliness.

Therefore, without the Ascension of Jesus, the Assumption of Mary would not be possible and would lack meaning. Jesus’ Ascension bore its first fruit in Mary. And she manifests the beauty and glory of the Ascension.

Solemnity of the Ascension
Ss Joachim & Ann, Ijegun, Lagos.
14th May, 2015




2 comments:

  1. In contemplating Mary's powerful intercession as she waits for the Holy Spirit, Christians of every age have frequently had recourse to her intercession on the long and tiring journey to salvation, in order to receive the gifts of the Paraclete in greater abundance.
    When we check the Virgin Mary's life, we will recall Her presence in the community with the disciples waiting for Pentecost, by Her prayers She helped the disciples prepare for the Spirit's coming imploring the gift of the Spirit, who had already overshadowed her in the Annunciation.

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  2. Thanks! And through her intercession, we too can abide in the Spirit.

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