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After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” (Acts 1:9-11)
Q. Why do we celebrate the Ascension at Mass?
A. The Ascension of Jesus was recorded in the Acts of the Apostles as a historical event that happened in time. Jesus, on his own power, defied gravity and rose into and through the clouds. It marked the culmination of the 40 day period of Jesus' resurrection appearances. For this reason, in the liturgical calendar, it is celebrated 40 days after Easter Sunday. When we celebrate key events of Jesus' life in the liturgy, we are mysteriously bringing that event to our own time. This is especially true of the four events, the suffering, death, resurrection and ascension, that make up what we call the Paschal Mystery.
Q. How do we access the saving power of the Paschal Mystery?
A. The redemptive power of the saving act of Jesus as Savior is present in the total of these four events as they happened in time and as they are liturgically re-presented throughout time. For some protestants, being saved is just about the historical sacrifice on the cross. That was the offering they say. For Catholics, the atoning power of the cross being applied to us it is not complete without the resurrection and ascension.
Q. Why, after Jesus rose from the dead, did he still have the wounds on his glorified body? For what purpose if the sacrifice was complete after he died on the cross?
A. The purpose is found in the next thing that happened. He took his wounded, sacrificial body and blood, like a Lamb that was slain, up to heaven to offer it to God the Father for our sake.
Q. Why was it necessary for Jesus to be seen going up into heaven and with his glorified yet sacrificial body dissapearing in the clouds?
A. As the Great High Priest, he was taking a living sacrifice which makes perpetual atonement for sins beyond the ultimate temple veil into heaven. Jesus, as High Priest of the New Covenant followed the Day of Atonement pattern of the Levitical High Priest of the Old Covenant who disappeared beyond a veil to enter the presence of God on the Ark. He then sprinkled the blood on the Ark to make atonement for sin. The Ark was the replica of God's throne in heaven.
Q. What are six ways that the Ascension of Jesus resembled the actions of the Old Testament High Priest on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16)?
Levitical High Priest...
1. Passed through the veil of Temple to Holy of Holies
2. Stood before the Ark
3. Offered blood of animals to God on the Mercy Seat.
4. Imperfect, finite sacrifice.
5. Performed once a year.
6. Symbolic of forgiveness of sins.
Jesus as high Priest...
1. Passed through cosmic veil into Heaven (Ascension).
2. Stood at the right hand of the Father.
3. Offers his own body and blood to God.
4. Perfect, infinite sacrifice
5. Once and for all through time.
6. Actually brings about perpetual atonement for sins.
Q. What is Jesus doing in heaven?
A. Jesus is seen in heaven as a 'Lamb that seemed to be slain' before the throne of God perpetually pouring out to the Father the sacrifice of love for his people. "Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth" (Rev 5:6). This heavenly liturgy is happening outside of time.
Q. Why is this important to Catholics?
A. When we celebrate the sacraments, especially the Mass, we are tapping into and making this once and for all event present in time so that we may benefit from the saving power of the Paschal Mystery as a whole. The Ascension of Jesus was a priestly, liturgical ritual that needed to be carried out because Jesus fulfilled the Day of Atonement and made the forgiveness of sins go from being merely symbolic to real and efficacious.
Q. Where is this in the Catechism of the Catholic Church?
A. "Jesus Christ, the one priest of the new and eternal Covenant, "entered, not into a sanctuary made by human hands. . . but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf." There Christ permanently exercises his priesthood, for he "always lives to make intercession" for "those who draw near to God through him". As "high priest of the good things to come" he is the center and the principal actor of the liturgy that honours the Father in heaven" (CCC 662).
I am a life-long Catholic, husband, dad, teacher and former football coach. I've been teaching the Catholic Faith to young men, religious educators and catechists since 1998. My academic background, MA is in Theology and Catechetics. Email: gary@apexcatechetics.com
