The Ascension

II: The Ascension

Acts i. 3-12; Luke xxiv. 44-53; Mark xvi. 19, 20.

The Ascension. J-J Tissot.

Forty days had elapsed since the Resurrection; the time had come for Jesus to leave the earth.  Whether warned by their Master, or perchance drawn thither by the Feast of Pentecost, the Apostles returned to Jerusalem, and there He gathered them about Him once more, probably in the hallowed Supper-Room.  For the last time He took His place at the table consecrated by the Eucharistic Banquet, and " while eating with them, He bade them not to leave Jerusalem, but to await the Father's promise." 

"Even that which you have heard," saith He, "from My mouth; for John baptised with water, but before many days hence you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit."

"Behold!" He added, "the fulfilment of that whereof I told you while I was still with you; but it must needs be that all things which have been written of Me, whether in the Law of Moses or in the Prophets, or in the Psalms, should be accomplished." And, even as He spoke, He opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures; when He added:—

"Look!  Thus it is written: It must needs be that the Christ should suffer, should rise again from among the dead on the third day, and that so penance and remission of sins in His Name be preached throughout the whole world, beginning at Jerusalem.  And you indeed are witnesses of these things.  I will send the Gift which My Father hath promised you; but do you abide in the city tell you be endued with strength from on high."

Then Jesus rose up and walked towards the Mount of Olives.  The Apostles followed, filled with brighter dreams of glory and earthly happiness than ever before; for the sight of the risen Lord proceeding before them rekindled all their old-time hopes.  They began to believe that even now the moment so long expected when they were to triumph with the Christ had come at last, and pressing nearer they ventured to question Him.

" Master," they asked, " wilt Thou even now restore again the Sovereignty of Israel?"

Once more and for the last time, the Saviour checked the surging ambitions of His children, and renewed His former commandment for them to await the coming of the Holy Spirit, that so they might carry the Gospel tidings unto the whole wide world.

"It is not for you," He told them, "to know the times and the moments which the Father hath put in His own power, but you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost, which shall descend upon you, and you shall be My witnesses at Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and even to the uttermost parts of the earth."

Even Samaria,— that the land of drunkenness and falsehood to the mind of all Jewry?  Nay, the whole wide world howsoever contaminated by contact with accursed Heathendom, was to become the Kingdom of Jesus!  Whereupon the Apostles realized that this was not the time to question the Master, and they walked on in silence.

Angels address the men of Galilee. J-J Tissot.

Now they were coming to the brow of a hill which marks the outskirts of Bethany and the outer limits of Jerusalem.  There Jesus stood still, and lifting up His hands He began to bless His Apostles.  And behold!  While blessing them, He was raised up above the mountain tops.  A cloud caught Him away out of their sight, and He disappeared into the blue depths of the sky.

The disciples lingered awe-struck and overwhelmed with glad wonderment, when all at once two Angels formed like unto men, arrayed in garments of surpassing whiteness, stood at their side.

"Men of Galilee," they also said, "why do you still linger here gazing up into the sky?  This Jesus Who hath left you to ascend into Heaven shall likewise descend as you have beheld Him going up thither."

These words recalled to the Apostles' minds the promise of their Lord, "that He would not leave them orphans, but would return shortly to take them with Him." "Then having adored Him, they returned filled with great joy to Jerusalem, and they were without ceasing in the Temple, praising and blessing God."

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.