The period of forty days after the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead is characterized by the appearance of the Risen Jesus to his disciples as an ample proof that He conquered death and He was alive. These forty days after the resurrection culminate now in the glory of his Ascension to the Father. “He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father”. This is what we profess in the sixth article of our Creed and it shows us how Jesus enters into the divine glory with his human nature. The human nature of Jesus is inseparable from his divine nature.

Through his Ascension our Lord and savior Jesus Christ entered into heaven and He keeps the door open for the humanity to enter.  Jesus ascended into heaven not to distance Himself from us, but He draws us near to him in order to enjoy the eternal glory. He has gone in order to prepare a place for us. The event itself is not an end in the sense of finality; rather it is the continuation of the everlasting.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave to his disciples both instructions and promise. “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to the all creation.”  The disciples received the mission to go throughout the world to proclaim the Good News and to be witnesses of the Risen Lord. But they were to wait in Jerusalem for few days so that they may receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise made by Jesus to his disciples is the gift of the Holy Spirit, the advocate, the paraclete.  Those who accepted the Good News have to believe and to be baptized. Faith and baptism are the requirement for anyone who wishes to be saved.

I can affirm without risk of being contradicted that we are living in a World where talking about faith or baptism seems to be a ridiculous topic without any attraction or interest. What does it mean to believe or to be baptized now days? People are much more interested on making money, falling in loving or watching a football game.  Humanity is going astray from the living and risen Lord. While some of us are baptized in order to belong to specific religious group; others believe but they do not want to belong to any specific religion. Consequently, we are experiencing the phenomenon of believing without belonging and belonging without believing. Let us believe by belonging and belong by believing. These are the visible signs which will accompany the one who really believe in the Good News and are baptized:

• Drive out devils meaning to fight against the power of the evil that chokes and frightens human life in the present world. Indeed, the evil is at work in this world but it is God who gets the last word.
• Speak new tongues meaning to communicate with others through the language of Love which has no grammar or rules.
• To hold snakes in one’s hand and to overcome poison. There are so many things that poison our living together for instance Gossip that breaks down relationships. Our sinful pride and selfishness poison also our relationships with one another.
• Heal the sick. What best restores health is the acceptance, the welcoming and the loving care of the sick and the marginalized.  

“They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two men in white were standing near them and they said: “Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky. The ascension of the Lord is not a blast-off of a modern space-satellite. The event itself is an act of glorification and preparation. Jesus does not ascend into heaven in order to explore the celestial   space. He ascended into heaven in order to prepare for you and for me an eternal dwelling place of happiness and peace. Let us wait for his second coming by proclaiming the Good News of the resurrection in word and deeds.