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The Light of the World
Since the Ascension of Christ is our exaltation, and whither the glory of the head has
gone first, there the hope of the body is also called, let us rejoice with gladness and delight in
giving thanks. For today not only have we been confirmed as the possessors of paradise, but
in Christ we have even penetrated the heights of heaven, having gained far more through the
ineffable grace of Christ than we had lost through the malice of the devil. For those whom
the virulent enemy cast down from the happiness of their first state, these the Son of God has
placed as one body with Himself at the right hand of the Father, who lives and reigns in the
unity of the Holy Ghost for all eternity. Amen. 17
Christ, our head, “hath raised us up together, and hath made us sit together in the heavenly
places” (Eph 2:6). We are “heirs indeed of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:17),
called to share the inheritance of Christ. “Now you are the body of Christ, and members of
member” (1 Cor 12:27), “For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth
it, as also Christ doth the Church” (Eph 5:29). Now the members and the body share in that
which belongs to the head. Thus we possess even today the riches and glory and exaltation of
the Ascension in Christ our head.
Christ’s victory and triumph is not His personal victory and triumph, but belongs to the
whole Christ, to the entire Church. When He died on the cross He embodied the whole of
mankind, and the whole of mankind shared in His death. As the second Adam, He includes
the whole of mankind also in His resurrection and ascension. He won the victory and has triumphed,
not only for Himself, but for us also, for the whole Church. Our head has been taken
up into heaven, where He reserves a place also for us. That place already belongs to us and is
secured for us by Christ. That does not mean that God will one day take us to Himself in heaven,
but rather that God has already brought us to heaven in Christ.
“And if I shall go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself,
that where I am you also may be. And whither I go you know, and the way you know” ( Jn 14:3 f.).
How could we do anything else but rejoice, at least to the extent of our belief? Our joy as
Christians on this occasion will be in direct proportion to our faith.
What must we do that we may be certain to share in the Ascension later on? We need do
only one thing, remain united to Christ. How can we remain united to Him? By becoming
members of His body, His Church, and by living in harmony with its teachings.
Prayer
Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we who believe Thy only-begotten Son, our
Redeemer, has this day ascended into heaven, may ourselves also dwell in spirit on heavenly
things. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Feast of the Ascension (2)
Today we ascend the Mount of Olives (the stational church of St. Peter) with Peter and
the other apostles to witness Christ’s Ascension. “And it came to pass, whilst He blessed
them, He departed from them and was carried up into heaven. And they adoring went
17
St. Leo the Great; lesson at Matins.
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