The Ascension of Jesus Christ was celebrated today in many dioceses around the world, although some still celebrate the feast on Ascension Thursday. Here’s a brief Q and A that explains a few key points about the doctrine.
Why is the Ascension important?
The Ascension of the resurrected body of Jesus into heaven is important for many reasons. First, it answers the question, “Where is Jesus’ body now?” Second, many objectors to the Gospel would have wondered why Jesus had to return to the Father. In other words, what difference has this alleged triumph of the Messiah made for the world?
Peter preached that heaven must keep Jesus “until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouths of his holy prophets from of old” (Acts 3:21). Paul similarly teaches that Christ must reign “until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (1 Cor. 15:25; cf. Ps. 110:1). Both of these things will be accomplished in the present age, the age of the Church.
Presently, Christ is exercising his reign on earth through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church. The early Catholics pointed to charismatic phenomena (such as healings, the gift of prophecy, etc.) as proof of this reality. Peter’s quotation of Joel 3:1-5 in his Pentecost sermon (Acts 2:16-21) alludes to this effect. Essentially, the fledgling Church was accomplishing everything that Jesus did when he was on earth in his human body. But the effect, in a sense, was greater: Jesus’ physical body could only be in one place at a time; Jesus in his mystical body (the Church) could now cover the earth with his presence.
What is the difference between the Ascension of Jesus and the Assumption of Mary?
The essential difference is that Jesus, as God, could ascend to heaven by his own power. Mary, as a creature, albeit the greatest creature in the universe, had to be drawn (assumed) into heaven, by God. Both Jesus and Mary are presently experiencing the life of heaven in their physical, glorified bodies – an experience we hope to share, if we remain faithful, which we affirm each Sunday in the Creed: “I believe in the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.”