158. The Ascension of Our Lord (II)

Meditations no. 204 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

Before going to heaven Jesus Christ gave us a mission.

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God… But before leaving, he entrusted his Apostles with the task of continuing his saving mission on earth: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Christ entrusted this mission to the Apostles and to Christians of all times. As God’s dearly loved children in his Church, who have been called to the Work with a divine vocation, we have to carry out this task of co-redemption. It is the responsibility of each of us to continue Christ’s mission by doing Opus Dei on earth.

Negotiamini dum venio; trade with these till I come. While we await the return of our Lord, who will come again to take full possession of his Kingdom, we cannot remain passive. The spreading of the Kingdom of God is not only the official task of those members of the Church who represent Christ because of the sacred powers they have received from him. Vos autem estis corpus Christi, you too are the body of Christ, missionaries with a mission, though without calling yourselves missionaries, and you have received the specific command to trade, until our Lord’s return, with your work, which is your vocation. This responsible work is something for which Christ will ask you to render an account.

Difficulties may cause us to weaken at times. Like the cloud that hid Jesus from the Apostles’ sight, some particular obstacle may arise on our path to God. But God our Lord is asking us to carry on resolutely. It is clear that we still have far to go, we still have much to do, and sometimes there are obstacles to overcome; but today the Church confirms us in our hope. How often, when difficulties arise, our human outlook tempts us to think that God has abandoned us! But he never leaves us: I will not leave you orphans, he promised us.

Our responsibility to fulfil the task of co-redemption.

There is great reason for rejoicing, St Leo the Great tells us, on seeing the human nature of Christ raised in dignity above all creatures in heaven, surpassing the angels and the majesty of the archangels. While the disciples were contemplating our Lord as he went up to heaven, two men clothed in white stood by them and said: Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.

For a moment we feel that same desire which St Peter expressed on Mount Thabor: Lord, it is good for us to be here! We would like to enjoy the fullness of the vision of God, and forget about our task on earth. But now the angels’ question impels us to throw ourselves into our work, to be contemplatives in the challenges of everyday life, to go out to the whole world and teach the good news to all: to travel the world from one end to the other, our hearts filled with God’s presence, in order to make him known to everyone.

God did not create us to build a lasting city here on earth, because this world is the way to that other, a dwelling-place free from care. Nevertheless, our Father writes, we children of God ought not to remain aloof from earthly endeavours, for God has placed us here to sanctify them and make them fruitful with our blessed faith, which alone is capable of bringing true peace and joy to all men wherever they may be. Since 1928 I have constantly preached that we urgently need to Christianize society. We must imbue all levels of mankind with a supernatural outlook, and each of us must strive to raise his daily duties, his job or profession, to the order of supernatural grace. In this way all human occupations will be lit up by a new hope that transcends time and the inherent transience of earthly realities.

We are contemplatives in the world, inspired by the world. We have to set ourselves to work with still greater energy, since we know our Lord will return, even though we know neither the day nor the hour.” This uncertainty cannot be allowed to lessen the urgency with which a child of God acts: on the contrary, it will incite us to live with loving vigilance, to finish everything, whether big or small, as if it were the last thing we do before going to the Father. A great task awaits us, insists our Father. We cannot remain inactive, because our Lord has told us clearly, Trade till I come. As long as we are awaiting the Lord’s return, when he will come to take full possession of his kingdom, we cannot afford to relax.

Serving God on earth with our eyes on heaven.

The feast of our Lord’s Ascension also reminds us of another fact. The same Christ, who encourages us to carry out our task in the world, awaits us in heaven as well. In other words, our life on earth, which we love, is not definitive. We do not have a permanent dwelling-place here, but we seek that which is to come, a changeless home, where we may live for ever.

Still, we must be careful not to interpret the Word of God within limits that are too narrow. Our Lord does not expect us to be unhappy in our life on earth and await a reward only in the next life. God wants us to be happy on earth too, but with a desire for the other, total happiness that only he can give.

In this life, the contemplation of supernatural reality, the action of grace in our souls, our love for our neighbour as a result of our love for God - all these are already a foretaste of heaven, a beginning that is destined to grow from day to day. We Christians cannot resign ourselves to leading a double life - our life must be a strong and simple unity into which all our actions converge.

Christ awaits us. We are citizens of heaven, and at the same time fully-fledged citizens of this earth, in the midst of difficulties, injustices and lack of understanding, but also in the midst of the joy and serenity that comes from knowing that we are children of God. Let us persevere in the service of our God, and we will see the growth in numbers and in sanctity of this Christian army of peace, of this co-redeeming people. Let us be contemplative souls, carrying on an unceasing dialogue with our Lord at all hours - from the first thought of the day to the last, turning our heart constantly toward our Lord Jesus Christ, going to him through our Mother, Holy Mary, and through him to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

If, in spite of everything, Jesus’ Ascension into heaven leaves a certain taste of sadness in our souls, let us go to his Mother, as the Apostles did. They returned to Jerusalem … and they prayed with one mind … together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus.