From the Depths to the Heights

Praised be Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!

St. Mark tells us that Jesus “was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God.” The Ascension of Jesus is his exaltation. St. Paul tells us that the Father raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand “far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Nasa ilalim ng kapangyarihan ni Kristo ang lahat ng paghahari, kapamahalaan, kapangyarihan, at pamunuan. Higit ang kanyang pangalan kaysa lahat ng pangalan, hindi lamang sa panahong ito kundi pati sa darating.) In fact, the Father “put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the Church…the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.” (Pinailalim ng Diyos sa kapangyarihan ni Kristo ang lahat ng bagay, at siya ang ginawang ulo ng Simbahan…ang kapuspusan niya na pumupuspos sa lahat lahat.)

Why this exaltation? Why this immense power? It is because the Father was pleased by the humility and obedience of his Son Jesus who did not hesitate to empty himself in order to take our humble likeness. The Father was pleased with Jesus who humbled himself further by obediently accepting death on the Cross. Jesus was exalted far above all powers because he went to the very depths of our human misery; that depth of human misery is death where man has lost everything. The height of his exaltation is commensurate to the depth of his plunge. The abundance of his wealth is commensurate to the abjection of his poverty. The greatness of his power is commensurate to the weakness that he embraced. He who descended to earth ascends to heaven: he is the Son of Man who is in heaven.

Looking at what the Father did to his Son, we realize “what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us to believe.” St. Paul affirms that “this power working in us is the same as the great might which he worked in Christ.” Thus, his glory is ours…only if we descend with him into the depths of humiliation. His abundance is ours…only if we renounce everything to imitate his poverty. His power is ours…only if we rank ourselves among the meek and the gentle of the earth. Indeed, we will inherit the heavenly inheritance of Jesus only if we suffer together with him. There is no other way. The way of glory is the way of humility. Jesus said, “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”  

Therefore, let us not hesitate to lose everything for the sake of Jesus. Just remember the abundant inheritance that awaits us. If we want to gain everything, we must detach ourselves from everything that the world holds dear. We must renounce everything, including our very selves, in order to follow the Lord along the way of humility, of poverty, and of weakness. When we follow him to the depths, he will bring us with him to the heights. The Lord did not promise us happiness in this life but only in the next.

Jesus, I trust in you. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

On the 40th Day of Easter

In the Philippines and in some other countries, the celebration of the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord will be transferred to Sunday and it will take the place of the 7th Sunday of Easter. The reason for this is that the Ascension Feast is not a Holy Day of Obligation here and so the Feast is transferred to Sunday when people are obliged to assist at Mass.

I have no objection to celebrating an External Solemnity of the Ascension on Sunday so that more people can participate in it. However, I have issue with not celebrating this Feast on the ACTUAL 40TH DAY OF EASTER. In most parishes today, there is not even a hint that om this day, Christ ascended into heaven. It is as if nothing happened today. Why is that an issue for me?

First of all, the Acts of the Apostles is written: "After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. " (Acts 1:3) The Scriptures testify to the fact that the Ascension happened on the 40th day of the Resurrection. When we do not celebrate the Ascension today (the 40th day) because we will celebrate it on Sunday, then we are giving out the message that Christ our Lord ascended to heaven on the 43rd day of Easter.

Before the Vatican II liturgical reform, the celebration of the external solemnities on Sundays was already practiced. Its purpose was to enable more people to celebrate the mystery in as much as Sunday was an obligatory day for Mass. However, even if there was an external solemnity, still, the Feast of the Ascension was celebrated on Ascension Thursday, which is the actual 40th day. Perhaps, fewer people are able to assist at Mass but at least there was no liturgical denial that the Lord ascended to heaven on the 40th day.

In fact, in the new English Translation of the Roman Missal, the collect for the Vigil Mass of the Ascension reads: "O God, whose Son TODAY ascended to the heavens as the apostles looked on, grant, we pray, that in accordance with his promise, we may be worthy for him to live with us always on earth..." If the Vigil Mass were celebrated on Saturday evening (which would be the eve of the 43rd day), would he really be honest in the prayer if he said "Your Son TODAY ascended to the heavens..."? Of course, the liturgists would appeal to the argument that the prayer refers to the Liturgical Hodie (today) but these are distinctions in theology which the ordinary faithful are not familiar with. The same is said by the Preface of the Ascension: "The Lord Jesus,,,ascended TODAY to the highest heavens..." The same is said by the Solemn Blessing of the Feast: "May the almighty God bless you for ON THIS VERY DAY his only begotten Son pierced the heights of heaven."

I repeat that I do not have any objection to the celebration of an external feast on Sunday for the sake of the people who cannot go to Mass on Ascension Thursday. But let us not liturgically deny on the actual 40th day that Christ ascended to heaven. To my opinion, we have to keep the Feast on the actual 40th day itself.

Friend, come up higher!

PRAISED BE JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH!

The ascension of the Lord Jesus is his exaltation and enthronement as Lord and King. On this day, Jesus returned to heaven from where he came: “No one ascends into heaven except the one who descended from heaven: the Son of Man who is in heaven.” His return to heaven happened in a manner that was seen by those who were present: “as they were looking on, he was lifted up and a cloud took him from their sight.” He was lifted up. Who of us would forget that the Lord himself referred to himself being lifted up like that bronze serpent which Moses lifted up in the desert to save those who were bitten by the snakes: As Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so will the Son of Man be lifted up. By this, the Lord referred to his death on the Cross. Ironically, the Cross was devised by the Romans as an instrument of both death and shame. However, to Jesus, the Cross became the instrument of his exaltation. Today, the one who descended into the depths of humiliation is now exalted before his disciples. Did not our Lord referred to this when he spoke of the etiquette which his disciples must observe when invited to a banquet: When invited to a banquet, seek the lowest place so that the host may approach you and say, “Friend, come up higher.” And thus shall you be exalted in the sight of the others in the banquet. The Lord Jesus who emptied himself of his glory, took the form of a human slave. He humiliated himself even further by obediently accepting death on the Cross. And because of this God exalted him and gave him a Name which is above all other names. He who emptied himself is now clothed with power: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” He who descended from heaven is now seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. He who washed his disciples’ feet is now crowned as King of kings and Lord of lords. He who sought the lowest place was exalted in the sight of his friends.

And this is the Gospel that we were sent to proclaim. We are tasked to make disciples of all nations because all nations belong to him. All authority in heaven and on earth was given to him. To make disciples of all nations simply is to restore to the Lord Jesus what truly belongs to him. To teach all nations to observe all that he has commanded us is simply to give to the Lord the obedience that is due to him as King and Lord. The Lord reigns in the Church. The Lord reigns through the Church. The Church is the beginning of the Kingdom of Jesus on earth. The Church is the instrument for the spread of Christ’s Kingship on earth. Saint Paul said: “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his 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, I trust in you. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. 

Transfer the Feast or Have an External Solemnity...that is the question

In the ordinary form of the Roman rite, the celebration of the Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord may be transferred to a Sunday if it is not observed as a holy day of obligation in a certain region. I find this rule strange because the Scriptures say that the Lord ascended into heaven on the 40th day. If the Ascension is celebrated on Sunday, it would not be the 40th day but the 43rd. I may sound very petty but I have just been thinking that with regards Christmas, there is no rule that allows us to transfer the celebration of this feast to a Sunday if this were not observed as a holy day of obligation in a certain place. And yet, we all know that the date of the feast (December 25) is not indicated in Scriptures (unless there is something from Apostolic Tradition that I am unaware of). The Ascension event is different. The Acts of the Apostles really mention the 40th day. 

Of course, in the extraordinary form, the celebration of an external solemnity on Sunday is allowed. However, even with an external solemnity, Ascension is still celebrated on a Thursday, which is the 40th day. Besides, the novena to the Holy Spirit begins on the Friday after Ascension Thursday. Even if the Feast is moved to Sunday, the novena should still begin on the Friday before that Sunday in order to have complete 9 days for the devotion (or else it could not be called a "novena"). Sometimes, I am amused by people who say, 'We will have a 7 day novena.' I find it strange that the novena to the Holy Spirit should begin before Ascension is celebrated. Did not Our Lady and the Apostles begin praying after the Ascension? 

Witnesses of Divine Tenderness

Praised be Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!

 As our Lord ascends into heaven in order to be seated at the right hand of God “far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but in the age to come,” he tells his disciples: “You are my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  His disciples are to testify that in fulfillment of the Scriptures, the Christ suffered and rose from the dead and now, repentance for the forgiveness of sins is to be preached to all nations. In other words, the disciples are witnesses of the tenderness of God whose mercy was revealed in the incarnation and in the Paschal Mystery of Jesus his Son. God calls all to hope and not to despair. The message that we, his disciples, bear is that of love and mercy. Pope Francis tweeted: Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she bears witness to God’s love. Be witnesses of God’s tenderness.

In order to make us witnesses of Divine tenderness and love, the Lord promises to send the Holy Spirit whom he calls “Power from on high.” This promised Power is unlike the power that the world uses to dominate and to oppress. Rather, this Power is one that uplifts through forgiveness. This Power from on high is the Power of Love. The Holy Spirit is the Love of God poured into our hearts. Thus, the disciples are told to wait for the Holy Spirit to come down. They are not to leave Jerusalem until they are clothed by Power from on high. How can they bear witness to Divine love and tenderness unless they themselves experience it? How can they speak of forgiveness of sins unless they themselves be forgiven? When they receive the Holy Spirit, their sins will be forgiven. Then will they be convinced that they are loved even in spite of their sins. Then they will be convinced that God is a tender and loving God.

This is the Power by which all things will be put beneath the feet of Christ. It will be a dominion of love. It will seek to establish in the world a culture of mercy. Even as he sits at the right hand of the Father, Jesus continues to be the servant who will not break a reed or put off a smoldering wick. The humility that he manifested during Holy Week continues to be his even until now. By this humility, his mercy becomes an invitation to all to repentance. And people will come to him for they will be attracted by his gentleness and mercy. We look at him and we realize that we have mistakenly desired the wrong power that dominates and oppresses. We realize that there is an even superior power – the power that loves and forgives. This is the power that builds. This is the power that truly lasts forever. And his kingdom will have no end.

Jesus, I trust in you. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

The Ascension and the Mystical Body of Christ

Praised be Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!

For forty days, Jesus appeared to his Apostles and spoke about the Kingdom of God. After he had spoken to them, Jesus was taken into heaven, and took his seat at the right hand of God “far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion…” The Acts of the Apostles said: “a cloud took him from their sight.” Taking his seat at God’s right hand and having disappeared amongst the clouds, Jesus might seem to have left his Apostles behind. But this is not so. He may have disappeared but he did not leave. While he is enthroned far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, the Lord Jesus nevertheless remains present in the world. He may have disappeared physically but this does not mean he is no longer here. The manner of his presence merely changed for Christ continues to be present in the world through his Church.

Before he ascended into heaven, he spoke of signs that will accompany his followers, that is, those who believe: “in my name, they will drive out demons…They will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Come to think of it, these signs Jesus referred to were simply the things he had been doing while on earth. By giving his disciples the power to do what he used to do while amongst them, Jesus was actually saying that the Church will continue to do his work on earth. The more precise statement would be: Jesus will continue doing what he has always been doing – this time, he will do his works through the Church. This is why St. Paul said that the Father, seating Jesus at his right hand in the heavens, “put all things beneath his feet and gave his as head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.”

The Catechism says: “As Lord, Christ is also head of the Church, which is his Body. Taken up to heaven and glorified after he had thus fully accomplished his mission, Christ dwells on earth in his Church.” (CCC, 669) Also, the same Catechism says elsewhere: “Christ ‘is the head of the body, the Church.’ He is the principle of creation and redemption. Raised to the Father’s glory, ‘in everything he is preeminent,’ especially in the Church, through whom he extends his reign over all things.” (CCC, 792) “Christ and his Church thus together make up the ‘whole Christ’ (Christus totus). The Church is one with Christ.” (CCC, 795) Thus, St. Augustine exclaims: “Let us rejoice, then, and give thanks that we have become not only Christians, but Christ himself. Do you understand and grasp, brethren, God’s grace towards us? Marvel and rejoice: we have become Christ. For if he is the head, we are the members; he and we together are the whole man…The fullness of Christ then is the head and the members. But what does ‘head and members’ mean? (It means) Christ and the Church.” (Ibid.) The Church is the Sacrament of Christ. She makes him visible. Her teachings make him heard. Her presence makes him present. The common sense of St. Joan of Arc says it in very clear terms: “About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they are just one thing, and we shouldn’t complicate the matter.” (Ibid.)

Jesus, I trust in you. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!