ISB ~ Acts 1 v9

lifted up:The Ascension of Jesus culminates with his heavenly enthronement at the right hand of the Father (Mk 16:19). The traditional site of the Ascension is located on the crest of Mt. Olivet, directly east of Jerusalem (1:12). Theologically, the withdrawal of Christ’s visible presence from the world is not a withdrawal of his actual presence. He continues to live and wo

rk through the ministry of the pilgrim Church (Mt 18:20; 28:20; Gal 2:20) animated by the Spirit (2:4, etc.; CCC 659). See note on Jn 14:18. a cloud: Represents the divine presence in general (Ex 13:21; 24:16) and the Holy Spirit in particular (Is 63:11; CCC 697).

• Christ’s return to the Father evokes the vision of Dan 7:13, where the messianic Son of man is carried to the Ancient o

f Days on the clouds of heaven. Interestingly, the nexttime Jesus appears in Acts he appears as the heavenly Son of man (7:55-56; CCC 664). There may also be an implied link with Moses and Elijah: not only were these men speaking about the departure of Jesus at his Transfiguration (Lk 9:30-31), but Jewish tradition holds that both Mose

s and Elijah were taken up to heaven (Rev 11:12) and that both gave a share of their spirit to their successors (Deut 34:9; 2 Kings 2:9-12). See essay: Jesus, the Son of Man at Lk 17.