Meditation of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa: The Solemnity of The Ascension of The Lord, Year B
Below you can find the Meditation of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, for the Solemnity of The Ascension of The Lord, Year B, Thursday 9 May 2024.
The Gospel passages we have heard during this Easter season have repeatedly told us that Jesus came to bring life in abundance, give true peace, and leave us with his joy.
But where can this be found? How is this promise fulfilled?
Today's Gospel passage (Mk 16:15-20) makes us witness a great paradox.
On one hand, the passage recounts Jesus' return to the Father: indeed, in v.19 we read that “the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God”.
Jesus fulfilled his mission, which the Father sent him into the world for: he gave his life for his friends, so that everyone can hope again to enter a relationship of love and trust with the God of life.
On the other hand, we witness a radical intensification of the presence of Jesus amid his disciples: He acts together with them and confirms his Word by the wonders worked by the hands of his disciples (Mk 16:20).
It is not only a matter of intensification, but also of a total enlargement of boundaries: twice the universality of the Christian message is emphasized, which is intended for the whole world and every creature (Mk 16:15); and the disciples, when they leave, they preach everywhere (Mk 16:20).
The Lord, indeed, departs, yet he also remains.
He departs, but His departure is not equivalent to being on earth without Him.
On the contrary, His very ascension to heaven is what enables Him to dwell everywhere on earth.
How can this happen?…
This Meditation was originally publsihed on the website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Please click here to read the full text.