The Ascension of the Lord (Year C) - 1 June 2025
1st June 2025
“The Ascension was the triumph of redeemed man. It is the completion of his redemption. It was the last act, making the whole sure, for now man is actually in heaven.” - St John Henry Newman
A reflection on today's Gospel reading by the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J Sheen:
"In the Ascension the Saviour did not lay aside the garment of flesh with which He had been clothed; for His human nature would be the pattern of the future glory of other human natures, which would become incorporated to Him through a sharing of His life. Intrinsic and deep was the relation between His Incarnation and His Ascension. The Incarnation or the assuming of a human nature made it possible for Him to suffer and redeem. The Ascension exalted into glory that same human nature that was humbled to the death.
"A Coronation upon the earth, instead of an Ascension into heaven, would have confined men’s thoughts of Him to the earth. But the Ascension would cause men’s minds and hearts to ascend above the earth. In relation to Himself, it was fitting that the human nature which He took as the instrument for teaching, and governing, and sanctifying, should partake of glory as it shared in shame. It was very hard to believe that He, Who was the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief, was the beloved Son in Whom the Father was well pleased. It was difficult to believe that He, Who did not come down from a Cross, could ascend into heaven, or that the momentary glory that shone about Him on the Mount of the Transfiguration was a permanent possession. The Ascension put all such doubts away by introducing His human nature into intimate and eternal communion with God.
"The human nature which He took was mocked as a Prophet when they blindfolded Him and asked Him to tell who struck Him; He was mocked as a King when they put upon Him a mock-robe of royalty and gave Him a reed of straw for a sceptre; finally He was mocked as a Priest when they challenged Him, Who was offering Himself as a Victim, to come down from the Cross. By the Ascension His triple office of Teacher, King, and Priest was vindicated. But the vindication would be complete when He would come in justice as the Judge of men in the human nature which He took from men. No one to be judged could complain that God knows not the trials to which humans are subject. His very appearance as the Son of Man would prove that He had fought the same battles as men and endured the same temptations as those standing at His bar of justice. His judgment would immediately find an echo in hearts.
"Another reason for the Ascension was that He might plead in heaven to His Father with a human nature common to the rest of men. He could now, as it were, show the scars of His glory not only as trophies of victory but also as emblems of intercession. The night He went into the garden He prayed, as if He were already at the right hand of the Father in His heavenly abode; He uttered a prayer that was less that of a dying than that of an exalted Redeemer: So that the love Thou hast bestowed upon Me may dwell in them, and I, too, may dwell in them (John 17:26).
"While in heaven, He would be not only an Advocate of men with the Father but He would also send the Holy Spirit as man’s Advocate with Him. The Christ at the right hand of the Father would represent humanity before the Father’s throne; the Holy Spirit abiding with the faithful would represent in them the Christ Who went to the Father. In the Ascension, Christ took our necessities to the Father; thanks to the Spirit, Christ the Redeemer would be brought into the hearts of all who would believe in Him.
"The Ascension would give Christ the right to intercede powerfully for mortals: We can claim a great High Priest, and One Who has passed right up through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God. It was not as if our High Priest was incapable of feeling for us in our humiliations; He has been through every trial, fashioned as we are, only sinless (Hebrews 4:14)."
(Life of Christ)
Ascension Prayer
God our Father, make us joyful in the ascension of Your Son Jesus Christ. May we follow Him into the new creation for His ascension is our glory and our hope.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen. 🙏💖💐
(Prepared by the Spiritual Theology Department of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross)
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: 1 - 7 June
We join with Pope Leo XIV and the whole Church in praying for Christian Unity throughout the world, that all who have been reborn in one baptism may all be united in one faith under one Shepherd.
A Prayer For Christian Unity
Lord Jesus Christ, at Your Last Supper You prayed to the Father that all should be one. Send Your Holy Spirit upon all who bear Your name and seek to serve You. Strengthen our faith in You and make us love one another in humility. May we, who have been reborn in one baptism all be united in one Faith under one Shepherd. Amen. 🙏💖💐