"And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen." (Luke 24:50–53)
On the Thursday, forty days after the Feast of the Holy Resurrection, we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. This feast brings to a close Christ’s earthly mission and the period of the Gospel narrative.
The word “Ascension” means “rising up.” The Feast of the Ascension commemorates the risen Jesus Christ ascending into heaven in His body and sitting at the right hand of the Father.
The story of Christ’s Ascension is told in the New Testament (Mark 16:19–20; Luke 24:50–53; Acts 1:9–11). Forty days had passed since the great and historic event of the Holy Resurrection, during which the Risen Lord appeared many times to His grieving and discouraged disciples, reaffirming them in their faith and apostolic calling:
"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me." (Acts 1:3–4)
During these forty days, the Risen Christ did not cease to preach. Appearing to His disciples, to His Mother, and to the myrrh-bearing women, He always spoke about the Kingdom of Heaven — encouraging, strengthening, and comforting them so that they would not be saddened at His departure into heaven.
Jesus also instilled in them patience and courage: patience — to wait in hope for the fulfillment of His promise,
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:3)
and courage — to face the trials to come, so that they might proclaim the Gospel without fear.
His forty days of appearances, and His undeniable presence in the hearts and minds of the apostles, confirmed for them that the unbelievable had come true. After the darkness of the Cross and death, there shone the light of risen life and eternity.