HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH

FEAST OF ASCENSION - Ephesians 1:17-23

As we celebrate the ascension of the Lord, we need to be careful lest we give it a physical meaning and misunderstand the impact and meaning of the ascension. In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke tells us that “as they (the disciples) were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight” (Act 1:9). This going up may lead us to think of going up into the clouds and far beyond the clouds, and we may ask ourselves: Where has he gone?

Whenever we speak, and there is no other way of speaking, we use human language with human concepts that are always formulated taking into account the perception of our senses. But the reality that we perceive is always different from the perceptions we experience. The Ascension is a graphic description of a reality that cannot be touched or measured by our senses. When we speak of the ascension of Jesus, we are speaking of his glorification. In the letter to the Ephesians, we are told that God, “the Father of glory” used his power “to raise him (Jesus) from the dead and to make him sit at his right hand”, in such a way that “he has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation” (Ep 1:17-23)

The risen and glorified Jesus Christ, as Lord of the universe and head of the Church, is not far away, but he is with us, becoming a source of hope to all those who believe him and live in communion with him.The glorification of Jesus - the Son of man - is a guarantee of glorification to all those who are one body with him. And this is the Good News that we are entrusted with to take it and announce it to all the corners of the world. Jesus entrusts us with the mission he received: “make disciples of all the nations” (Mt 28:19)

In order to carry out this mission, we need the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that we are filled with the wisdom and the power of the Spirit to be true witnesses of Jesus Christ. During this week, let us prepare ourselves to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, for him to dwell in us and transform us into temples of the living God.