Christ is Ascended!
He Ascended in Glory!
We say this phrase, “He Ascended into Heaven” during our daily prayers as we recite the Creed, the statement of our beliefs and the symbol of our Orthodox Christian Faith. However, although we accent to the historical fact of the Ascension, we often glaze over its deep-set theological importance. Therefore, to plumb the depths of its meaning, let’s begin at the beginning.
There are Twelve Great Feasts in the life of the Church, with Great and Holy Pascha being the Feast of all Feasts. Sadly, amongst these sacred celebrated Holy Days, the Feast of Ascension – which always occurs on the 40th day after Pascha – is often one the most underrated and least appreciated. Perhaps this is because it is set betwixt Pascha and Pentecost, causing it to be overshadowed by these two “greater” feasts. Maybe it’s because the 40th day after Pascha always falls on a Thursday, a day when most people are working or in school. Or maybe it simply resonates negatively because Jesus leaves us to go back to Heaven.
No matter the reasoning for its lack of popularity, the Feast of the Ascension is extremely important because, as the Resurrection opened the grave, Christ’s Ascension opens Heaven. In Ascending to the Father, Christ makes this ascension the destiny of mankind; Christ going before us to prepare a place for us (John 14:2).
We cannot, and must not, limit our Christian experience simply to our Lord’s incarnation, ministry, death, and resurrection. Obviously, His earthly life and ministry is vital, as is His Life-saving Passion. Yet, by accomplishing His task and fulfilling His Father’s will, Jesus’ return to Heaven empowers us to continue His work and witness as Apostles. Jesus’ Ascension is the end of one type of “presence,” and the inauguration of another: the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Pentecost. God is still “with us,” but in a different way.
Also, the Ascension should not be construed as the Incarnation of Christ in reverse as if Jesus was briefly one of us and now, He isn’t. Christ Ascended with His humanity intact. Jesus didn’t leave His humanity behind but took it with Him and carried it up to the Father; again, paving the way for us. As a poet once wrote:
“Not gone, but reigning, close and near,
You whisper still: “I’m always here.”
Therefore, nothing has really changed for us except that now we live in the age of the Ascended Christ. Jesus’ gospel is the same; His teaching is the same; His example is the same; His mission is the same; His Way, Truth, Light, and Life are all the same; and His love is the same. But now our Lord’s Ascension gives each of us an opportunity to “look up” and aspire to be like Christ Who is enthroned in glory.
