While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. — Luke 24:51.
This concise verse marks an event of immense theological significance – the Ascension of Christ. While countless artists have attempted to capture this moment, and filmmakers have undoubtedly visualized it with varying degrees of success, I suspect the physical reality of “whatever really happened or how it physically happened” remains beyond our grasp. Yet, by contemplating the story, one can’t help but be overwhelmed by its sheer audacity and extraordinary implications.
Consider the narrative arc: one day, Christ is agonizing on a cross; the next, he lies entombed. Then, miraculously, he is resurrected, sharing meals and blessings with his bewildered followers. And just as they begin to process his return, he is “physically gone — carried up into heaven.” This rapid succession of extraordinary events, culminating in his inexplicable disappearance, challenges every rational framework.
To truly grasp the shock and wonder, imagine a personal parallel. Think of a regular gathering, perhaps my Thursday breakfast group. Picture this: I die, my funeral is held (with, one hopes, a respectable turnout), and then, just days later, as my friends gather at our usual table, there I am, casually enjoying a sausage biscuit and discussing sports. The initial disbelief would be staggering. And just as they begin to accept this impossible reality, I suddenly vanish, “carried away” from their sight. One might indeed suspect a strong shot of the Irish in the coffee!
My intention here is not to diminish the sacredness of Ascension Day, but rather to underscore the phenomenon – the utterly unprecedented nature of Christ’s departure. This was not merely a vanishing act; it was a return to God, a re-integration of the divine with all of his very human experiences.
This event irrevocably alters our relationship with God. Through Christ’s human experience, his death, resurrection, and Ascension, a new pathway is forged between the human and the divine. His ascent signifies the glorification of humanity, an affirmation that our earthly existence, with all its joys and sorrows, can indeed be united with the divine. It clarifies our understanding of our limited time on earth, not as an end, but as a journey with eternal implications, culminating in a hope of ultimate reconciliation and union with the Creator. The Ascension is not an ending, but a profound redefinition of beginnings.
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