The Ascension

Our Lord as man arose from the dead to an everlastinglife. As soon thereafter as his divine wisdom chose, he ascended from the perishable earth to the deathless glory of heaven.

Christ as man ascended, by the divine power, into heaven. As God, he is everywhere, and there is no place to which he can or need ascend. Hence, Christ as man ascended into heaven, and not as God, even though Christ is God.

Our Lord ascended into heaven, primarily by the divine power, which is his own as God; secondarily, by the power of the glorified soul which moves the glorified body at will.

“He ascended above all the heavens” (Eph.4:10). The glorifiedbody of our Risen Lord shines with greater glory than any other body. In place of dignity, it ranks highest.

Our Lord as man ascended into heaven to take his place,not only above all bodies, but above all spiritual creatures aswell. “God set him above all Principality, and Power, and Virtue, and Dominion, and every name that is named, not only inthis world but also in that which is to come” (Eph. 1:21).

Our Lord prepared the way for us to ascend to heaven. And his Ascension awakens in us faith, hope, charity, and reverence. Hence we can say that his Ascension is a cause of our salvation.