(Meditation on the Ascension of the Lord)
“...As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9).
Before the full glare of the apostles, Jesus ascended...From their midst, and within a common interaction, He gradually climbed the heights; from one altitude to another, He soared through to Heaven...They watched in dismay and wonder as their Master gradually climbed above, with a smooth sail! The beauty of the movement, with power and majesty is equally awe-inspiring. But their admiration gave way to fear of abandonment...
They lost sight of Him as the tick clouds enveloped Him in silence! “And a cloud took Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). But they continued to gaze upwards...This reminds us of the moment when the soldiers whisked Him away at Gethsemane. Now, He has taken Himself away from them. Once more, we can imagine the tension within them. Heaven intervened; the Angel, like to Mary, delivered the good news: “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Now their hope has come alive. As Mary ran with joy to visit Elizabeth after receiving the Good News that the Baby Jesus would come through her, so the Apostles departed to Jerusalem with great joy as the Angels left them (Lk 24:52-53).
But, why did He ascend instead of vanishing from their midst? Jesus’ bodily movement into Heaven indicates that there is now a vital link between Heaven and Earth, which supports and necessitates such a movement. Jacobs ladder has been fulfilled (Gen 28:12), and the ascending and descending of the Angels over the Son of Man (Jn 1:51) is alive and available for us. His Ascension is our assurance that we too can climb the Heights...Jesus Himself remains that living pathway to glory.
As He ascended into the thick cloud—the realm of the divinity—silence rained! Earlier he assured them, “It is for your good that I go away” (Jn 16:7). So His presence is beyond location; His voice echoes in silence. Because He ascended, human eyes can no more see Him, but the eyes of faith behold Him. How beautiful are the clouds that covered Him but did not hide Him from us! Since He did not vanish, His ascension is not absence. He is right here, and we celebrate Him today.
Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi, Lagos.
Thursday May 30th, 2019.
Solemnity of Ascension of the Lord.
