There are Twelve Great Feasts in the life of the Church, with Great and Holy Pascha being the Feast of all feasts. However, amongst these, the Feast of Ascension – which we just celebrated last Thursday – is perhaps the most underrated and least appreciated. Perhaps this is because it is somewhat overshadowed by Pascha and Pentecost, or maybe it’s because Jesus simply leaves us to go back to Heaven. Yet the Feast of the Ascension is important because, as the Resurrection opened the grave, Christ’s Ascension opens Heaven.
We cannot and must not limit our Christian experience simply to our Lord’s incarnation, ministry, death, and resurrection. Obviously, His earthly life 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.
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.
