Ascension Day

Some parts of the world have to wait until Sunday, and sadly I fear H&N may be one of them. However, I will write this for the universal Church. :-)


A very happy Ascension Day to all of you.

I'd just like to take this opportunity to welcome the new readers I've noticed over the last week or so, and to apologise for the lack of substantial posts recently. We're moving into exam season at school, so obviously I have to prioritise, as much as I'd rather blog! Facebook seems to eat into my free time too...

Anyway, a few thoughts on the Ascension:

As Christians, the Ascension is one of the most vital elements of our Faith, as shown by its prominence in the Creeds. It is perhaps Christ's greatest testimony to his own Divine mission and victory; that the Passion and death which he endured for us, and the Resurrection which we continue to celebrate in this Easter Season were the means by which Christ has conquored all for us and for the Father. The Ascension can be likened to the Father's seal of approval. This is not a chariot of fire for a faithful mortal, this is not the beggar's bliss with Abraham, it is even more glorious than the Transfiguration, for Christ ascends in his own right as God the Son to be enthroned in glory in Heaven. It is a clear and profound testimony to the sovreignty of Christ, to whom all authority on heaven and earth has been given over, and who will come again in glory. Jesus was the Messiah that nobody could have predicted, the suffering servant who won the Kingdom not in military might or a political Utopia, but through his own apparent failure, and ultimately his own death. After the Resurrection, Christ's ascension into heaven is a clear sign that Jesus of Nazarath is the Christ, and is the Father's only begotten Son. It points to the promise of heaven for those who believe in him. It is the sign and promise of our Christian hope.