Ascension
Ascension commemorates the ascension of Our Lord into heaven.
Father Chip’s liturgy lesson for Ascension:
Ascension Day commemorates our Lord’s ascension to the Father in Heaven. We keep this day 40 days after Easter, because Jesus ascended 40 days after the Resurrection. This was the final act of His earthly ministry and final proof of His divinity, removing all possibility of doubt from the Apostles’ minds and was the perfecting of His work of Atonement—His primary mission among us in the flesh. Ascensiontide lasts 10 days, beginning at Ascension Day, and ending at Whitsunday, or Pentecost. It’s also important to note that He ascended bodily, in a perfected flesh, acceptable for Heaven—as we will one day, as well, since Scripture teaches us that “…where He is, we shall be also” and “…shall be like Him” for we shall see Him as He is (St. John 14 & I St. John 3). Moreover, our Lord, before He ascended, gave instructions to the disciples, to wait for empowerment in Jerusalem—setting the stage for the Church Militant’s most powerful day—its birthday, Pentecost. So we should, as the angel instructed the disciples, not stand staring into a cloud, but look expectantly for His return in glory, with a new prayer—Maran’athah (Maranatha), meaning, “our Lord comes.” Even so, come quickly, Lord!
