I know this post is late, but this post is most fitting for today.

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

- Acts 1:1-11, English Standard Version

The bodily assumption of Christ is a basic tenant of Christianity and is reflected in the Apostles Creed when we say “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.” Since the liturgical year is designed to walk through Christ’s life throughout the course of a year it is fitting that we remember his final words and deeds upon this earth.

Ascension Thursday is celebrated forty days after Easter just as Christ stayed with his apostles for forty days as the above verses remind us. The Catholic Church considers Ascension Thursday to be a “solemnity,” or one of the year’s most important feast days. The celebration is definitely an ancient one, dating back to at least the fourth century, although Augustine claims it began with the Apostles. Since it is a feast, we are to joyously celebrate Christ returning to his rightful place and look forward to our own resurrection and glorification on that final day.

I leave you with the following from the New Saint Joseph Sunday Missal:

Let us pray
[that the risen Christ
will lead us to eternal life]
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.