SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (ASCENSION OF THE LORD) Hello. This is Bishop John LeVoir with a reflection for the Ascension of the Lord. After appearing to his Apostles and disciples over a period of forty days after his Resurrection, Jesus gathered his Apostles together. He said to them: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. This is the story of Jesus’ Ascension into heaven as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The Glossary of the Catechism states: “The Ascension is the entry of Jesus' humanity into divine glory in God's heavenly domain, forty days after his Resurrection.” With Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven, he could then send from Heaven the Holy Spirit- God the Holy Spirit. On Pentecost (10 days after the Ascension), the Holy Spirit will fill the humanity of the Apostles. What will the Holy Spirit enable the Apostles to do? Jesus was clear on this. They will be witnesses of Jesus’ words and deeds to the ends of the earth. This is the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, to enable the Apostles to be witnesses of Christ. The Apostles could not be the witnesses to Christ without the Holy Spirit. Under their own human power this would not be possible. It is only with the power of the Holy Spirit that they can witness accurately and credibly to Jesus Christ. This is also true with regard to the Church. It is only in union with the Holy Spirit, that the Church can witness accurately and credibly to Jesus Christ The Glossary states that the Holy Spirit is the third divine Person of the Blessed Trinity, the personal love of Father and Son for each other. Also called the Paraclete (Advocate) and Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit is at work with the Father and the Son from the beginning to the completion of the divine plan for our salvation. After he gave the Apostles their mission, Jesus ascended into Heaven to take his place at the right hand of the Father. What exactly does it mean to be at the right hand of the Father? The Catechism states: “Henceforth Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father: By 'the Father's right hand' we understand the glory and honor of divinity, where he who exists as Son of God before all ages, indeed as God, of one being with the Father, is seated bodily after he became incarnate and his flesh was glorified" (# 663). This means that now, in the person of Jesus Christ, true God and true man, our humanity is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Our humanity, united to God the Son, is beautiful and glorified, in heaven. In heaven, Jesus reveals to us what he wants us to be. He wants us to be in heaven, with our humanity beautiful and glorified, enjoying eternal happiness forever.