For 40 days after the Resurrection, Jesus was physically present on earth. He ate with the disciples. He walked through walls. He taught them about the Kingdom of God. It must have been amazing. The Apostles probably thought, "This is it. He's back. He's going to reign forever in Jerusalem."
And then, He left.
On the 40th day, He led them out to the Mount of Olives, blessed them, and "was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight" (Acts 1:9).
This is the Solemnity of the Ascension. At first glance, it feels like a breakup. Why would He leave us? But the Church teaches that the Ascension is not a loss. It is a gain. It is the necessary next step in God's plan for your salvation.
Here is why Jesus had to go—and why it's good news for you.
1. The Head Goes Where the Body Follows
Imagine humanity is locked out of a house (Heaven). The door has been shut since Adam and Eve sinned. The Resurrection kicked the door open. But the Ascension is Jesus walking through the door.
Jesus is fully God, but He is also fully man. When He ascends to the Father, He takes His human body—His hands, His feet, His beating heart—into the Holy of Holies. For the first time in history, human nature is seated at the right hand of God.
St. Augustine explains:
"Today our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven; let our hearts ascend with him. Listen to the Apostle Paul: 'If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above'... For just as he remained with us even after his ascension, so we too are already in heaven with him."
The Takeaway: We are members of His Body. Where the Head goes, the Body must follow. He isn't leaving us behind; He is dragging us up with Him.
2. The Coronation of the King
We often focus on the humiliation of Jesus (the Cross). We forget His glory. The Ascension is His Coronation Day. Daniel 7 prophesied this moment:
"I saw one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven... He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him." (Dan 7:13-14)
When Jesus ascends, the angels bow. The saints of the Old Testament (whom He freed from Sheol) process behind Him. He sits down on His throne. He is not just a "nice teacher." He is the King of the Universe. He rules over history, over politics, over demons, and over your life.
The Takeaway: You don't serve a dead philosopher. You serve a living, reigning King. Act like it.
3. "Unless I Go, The Spirit Cannot Come"
This is the most confusing part. Jesus said:
"It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." (John 16:7)
Why? Why couldn't we have both Jesus and the Spirit? Think of it this way: When Jesus was on earth, He was limited by His humanity. He could only be in Galilee or Jerusalem. He couldn't be in Rome and New York at the same time. By ascending, He transcends space and time. He sends His Spirit so that He can be present in every believer, everywhere, at once.
Through the Holy Spirit and the Eucharist, Jesus is closer to you now than He was to the Apostles when He was standing next to them. He was beside them. He is inside you.
The First Novena (The 9 Days of Waiting)
What did the Apostles do after Jesus left? They didn't start preaching immediately. Jesus told them to wait.
"Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised." (Acts 1:4)
They went back to the Upper Room with Mary. They locked the doors. They prayed. They prayed for 9 days—from Ascension Thursday to Pentecost Sunday.
This was the very first Novena (from novem, meaning nine) in history. The Church encourages us to pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit during these nine days. We ask for the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit to empower us for mission.
- Day 1 (Friday): For Wisdom.
- Day 2 (Saturday): For Understanding.
- Day 3 (Sunday): For Counsel.
- ...and so on.
(You can find the full Novena in the MyPrayerTower app).
FAQ: Is it a Holy Day of Obligation?
It depends on where you live. Ecclesiastically, the Ascension is always 40 days after Easter (which is always a Thursday). However, many bishops have moved the celebration to the following Sunday to ensure more people celebrate it.
- Thursday Celebration: Vatican City, Province of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Omaha, Philadelphia.
- Sunday Transfer: Most of the rest of the United States.
Check your parish bulletin! If it is celebrated on Thursday in your diocese, you are obligated to go to Mass.
How to Celebrate
- Look Up: Literally. Go outside. Look at the clouds. Realize that heaven is not "up" in the sky, but a dimension beyond ours. But looking up lifts the spirit.
- Start the Novena: Friday (the day after Ascension) is the traditional start of the Pentecost Novena. Commit to praying for the Holy Spirit for 9 days.
- Enthrone Jesus: Is Jesus King of your house? Do you have a crucifix or image of Him in a central place? If not, put one up today. Declare Him ruler of your family.
Conclusion: He Will Come Back
The Ascension is not the end of the story. As the Apostles were staring at the sky, two angels appeared and said:
"Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)
He went up. He is coming down. The Ascension reminds us that we are in "halftime." The King is away securing the Kingdom, but He is returning to judge the living and the dead. Our job in the meantime? Get to work.
Prepare for Pentecost. Start the 9-Day Novena to the Holy Spirit on the MyPrayerTower app.