The Ascension of Our Lord...

I know you'd all rather be talking about the Wuflu (not!), but today we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus Christ to the Father in Heaven 40 days after His resurrection.

Why is this important?

Simple version:

The Christian (in my case Catholic) religion is Trinitarian.  We believe in God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

At first glance, the Ascension would seem to be a sad day. Christ in his human body is leaving the world for the last time. But we need to take our cues from the liturgy. This is a joyful feast; it is the fulfillment of Christ’s salvific mission. The Ascension is the final leg of the Paschal Mystery: Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension into heaven (as mentioned in the Eucharist Prayer of the Mass). It is not until Jesus ascends and returns to His Father that His act of Redemption is completed. Our place in heaven is prepared at this feast—we will now share in Christ’s glory. That is why our hearts should sing with Psalm 47 as it repeats 3 days in a row, “God mounts His throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.” source

However, even more important, in my opinion, is that without the resurrection of Jesus we would not have Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles 10 days after the Ascension.

     “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

The Holy Spirit is sort of like the drummer in a rock band - indispensable, but usually ignored.

The Holy Spirit, while being one with the Father and the Son, is our holy delivery system for the grace that flows from God through Jesus Christ. 

When we are confirmed we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit - wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. 

This is certainly not the first time in history that we have required a huge dose of fortitude.  The problem is with the ongoing war on Christianity many people are unprepared to withstand the assault.

However you celebrate the Ascension, please keep in your prayers those who do not have the fruits or gifts of the Holy Spirit for they shall surely perish.



And now... 

 no day is complete without a kitteh.