The Ascension

 As they watched, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight, alleluia.







The long run from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost Sunday is nearly over. Today is the Ascension of the Lord and I dwelled much of the week on what it must have been like for the disciples as the day of the Ascension approached. Think about the emotional ride they would have been on for last 6 weeks. First came the glorious entrance into Jerusalem. Next came the moving but likely very confusing unfolding of the Last Supper. Immediately after that came the arrest, the trial and finally the Crucifixion. We know that despite all the efforts Jesus made to warn us about what would happen, we, they, could not believe that the when Jesus died, everything was ended. Jesus was just another in a long line of charismatic prophets and rebels who fell under the tried and true Roman understanding that if you kill the leader, you kill the movement. Then something unbelievable happened. The tomb was found empty. Jesus was seen alive first by a few and then by many. A disheartened, emotionally crushed and hopeless band of followers dared to believe again. To hope again. To finally begin to understand the message and they message they were born to carry. The Mass readings this week come to mind, particularly yesterday when the John wrote how Jesus told them how much more he had to tell them but the disciple’s mind just could not absorb any more and they would have to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit to reveal the rest of the truth to them that they needed to learn.

Finally we come today. I have tried to imagine what it must have been like for them to stand and watch as Jesus was lifted up and left their sight. We will read in coming days they were ready for him to leave them because he really was not just gone, just out of sight for the moment. He was still with them but, more importantly, we learn from Augustine, that they were with him as well.

Even knowing what was to come, I wonder what they were thinking. Excitement? Anticipation? Sorrow? I supposed the best answer is that they experienced a wide variety of conflicting emotions at the same time.