The Ascension: Christ’s Presence Through His Church
Many athletes, when their playing career is over, become coaches or manage a team in some way. For example:
- Mario Lemieux, one of the greatest hockey players of all time, not only played for the Pittsburgh Penguins but became an owner of the franchise.
- Larry Bird, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, not only played for the Boston Celtics, but became a coach and then became the president of basketball operations for the Indiana Pacers.
Many players transition from playing on the field, court, or ice rink, to coaching from the sidelines, or guiding an organization from a luxury box. They eventually direct operations and call the shots for a team in some capacity.
While this sports analogy isn’t perfect, the Ascension of Jesus can be thought of in this way.
Jesus was born of Mary, he walked this earth, he lived among us, he ate and drank with sinners… but he has Ascended.
He has been raised in glory to his rightful position in heaven, at the right hand of God the Father where he now reigns. And from heaven, he directs the church, he guides those who are on earth.
Don’t think of the Ascension as Jesus going into outer space, as if NASA could send out a satellite and take pictures of Jesus in a space suit near Jupiter. No, Jesus ascended to heaven—he has entered the realm of heaven. It’s like saying he has entered a different dimension, where he isn’t confined by space and time.
He can be even more present to us now in heaven than he was to us while he was on earth.
On Sunday, our Gospel acclamation said:
“I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus hasn’t left us—he is still with us, but he is with us in a different way. We might wonder: OK, he’s directing us and guiding us from heaven, but how exactly is he with us?
Our second reading said, God the Father:
“Put all things beneath Jesus’ feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.”
Jesus is present in his body, the Church. And as Christ’s body, we continue to carry out Jesus’ mission on earth.
St. Teresa of Avila once said:
“Christ has no body now, but yours. No hands, no feet on earth, but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ looks compassion into the world. Yours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which Christ blesses the world. You are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”
Jesus ascended into heaven, but he hasn’t left us—his presence among us has only changed. He is with us in his body the Church and in its sacraments.
Vivat Jesus!
Fr. D.J. Egan
Rev. David J. Egan, Chaplain
📞 (412) 841-1492