TWENTY-FIFTH LESSON
Ascension Day.
"Jesus is entered into heaven itself, that he may appear now in the presence of God for us."-ST. PAUL, Hebrews 9:24.
After his glorious resurrection, Jesus Christ remained on earth during forty days; but he did not live in the same manner as before his passion. Then His body was subject to suffering, and was mortal like ours, my children, subject to the same wants and the same sufferings, but after rising from the tomb, our Lord's body became immortal, impassible, that is to say no longer subject to pain or death. Instead of living constantly amongst men, as He had hitherto, He only appeared to them now and then, and always in a sudden and miraculous way. At one time He appeared by the seaside, when the Apostles were about to cast their nets; at another, on the road from Jerusalem to the little village of Emmaus, or else in the midst of his assembled disciples. And Jesus Christ addressed to them these words so full of kindness which he repeated continually: "Peace be with you."
These soothing words, the sound of his well-known voice, were yet insufficient to make the disciples believe in the presence of the Saviour; some of them, still affrighted by his sudden apparition, supposed they saw a phantom. To reassure them He said: "It is I, fear not... handle me, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me to have!"
He also showed them His feet and hands, which still retained the marks of the nails by which they had been pierced; then he would sit down and eat with the apostles; and the latter recognized him by his way of breaking and blessing the bread. Thus it was, my children, that our Lord at length succeeded in convincing the most incredulous of his disciples of the miracle of his resurrection.
It was for this purpose Jesus Christ passed forty days on earth; it was also to establish his Church, the Catholic Church, whose children we have the happiness to be.
After having completed the divine instructions He had already given the apostles, our Lord ordained that these instructions should be transmitted to the successors of the apostles, and preached throughout the whole world; at the same time, he promised never to forsake his Church, nor to allow it to err.
My children, Jesus Christ had redeemed man by His death and His sufferings, furthermore, He had enlightened him by His word; and established His Church to teach and expound His law. Having thus foreseen all our wants; provided us with remedies for our ailings; relief for our misery, consolations in our sufferings; our Saviour brought His divine mission to an end. The time had now come for him to return to His kingdom, and in his sacred humanity to take possession of heaven, so as to glorify it.
In order to prepare the Apostles for this approaching separation, he had already said to them: "My little children, I have but a few days to remain with you—a little while, and then you shall see me no more." And as, at their master's word, sorrow filled the hearts of the Apostles, Jesus Christ added: "I will not leave you orphans.... And I will pray My Father, and He will send you the Paraclete, the spirit of truth, that he may abide with you forever.... If you love Me, keep My commandments. I am going, but I will come to you again, and your heart shall rejoice: I am going to prepare you a seat in heaven."
On the fortieth day after his resurrection, my children, Jesus Christ ascended gloriously to heaven. By his order, the disciples were assembled on Mount Olivet near Jerusalem. The Gospel relates that there, the Lord Jesus gave them His last advice, said His last farewell, stretched out once more His divine hands to bless them, and in so doing was raised up to heaven. As the Apostles still gazed after Him, trying to catch another glimpse of Him, even after a cloud had hidden Him from their sight, two angels clothed in white suddenly appeared, saying:—"Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven?--this Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come as you have seen him ascend." Then the Apostles threw themselves on the ground, and adored the Son of God entering into his glory, followed by the souls of the righteous he had delivered, and surrounded by innumerable choirs of angels.
These words addressed to the Apostles, refer to the last judgment, which is to take place at the end of the world. Then, for the second time, Jesus Christ will descend on earth; he will come no more as our Saviour, but as our judge. We shall see no more the poor child of Bethlehem, the friend of sinners, the God who died on Calvary, but a just and severe king, who will give to each according to his deeds. Let us, by a holy life, prepare for this last coming of Jesus Christ. My dear children, may it in our thoughts be never separated from his triumph, from this glorious Ascension, the anniversary of which we celebrate today.
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