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Thursday, May 13, 2010In the midst of troubling times we are called on to contemplate the 40th day after Easter – the Lord’s Ascension. On this Holy Day we have Masses at 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM in English and 7:00 PM in Latin. Please take some time to meditate upon the words of Pope St. Leo the Great and remember: Meditate often on heaven. Now that you are divinized in Christ, it is your one true home. A child of God, you can find rest only in the life of the Trinity. Yet that life begins now, in mystery, in the sacraments. You rise to heaven when you confess the sins that weigh you down. Your Communion is in heaven when you go to Mass.
“Christ’s ascension marked the exaltation of our human nature. We saw ourselves divinized when our nature rose to glory in the person of Jesus.
Amidst these miracles, when the disciples were troubled by anxieties, the Lord appeared in their midst and said, “Peace be with you” (Jn 20:26). So that what was passing through their hearts might not remain. For they thought they saw a ghost, but He showed that their thoughts were wrong. He showed their doubting eyes the marks of the cross still in His hands and feet, and invited them to touch Him with careful scrutiny. For the traces of the nails and spear had been kept in order to heal the wounds of unbelieving hearts. Thus, not with wavering faith, but with steadfast knowledge, they might understand that the nature that had lain in the tomb was soon to sit on God the Father’s throne.
So, dearly beloved, throughout this time that passed between the Lord’s resurrection and ascension, God’s providence had this in mind, taught this, and impressed it upon both the eyes and hearts of His people: that the Lord Jesus Christ might be recognized as truly risen, just as He was truly born, truly suffered, and truly died. That’s why the blessed Apostles and all the disciples — fearful as they had been at His death on the cross, and hesitant in believing His Resurrection — were so strengthened by the clear truth that, when the Lord entered the heights of heaven, not only were they untouched by sadness, but were even filled with great joy.”
