Homily 5 May 2005 By Fr. Hathaway FSSP Mater Dei Latin Mass Community
Asension Thursday
On the Profitableness of the Ascension
St. Thomas Aquinas, in his small catechism (The Aquinas Catechism),
presents three ways in which Christ’s ascension was profitable for
mankind.
First, by way of a leader, Christ ascended in order to lead men to
heaven. Before Christ mankind had no leader, no guide, but now
Christ has guided the way. Moreover, the way was closed until
Christ opened the way and showed it to us, and so we read in Micah ( Mi
2:13), He shall go up that shall open the way before them: they
shall divide, and come to pass through the gate… and their king shall
pass before them, and the Lord at the head of them.” Also, before
the ascension others had no place for them to stay and so Christ
ascended to prepare a place for others as we read in St. John’s gospel,
“In My Father’s house there are many mansions. If not, I would
not have told you… I go to prepare a place for you.” (Jn 14:2)
Second, by way of increasing our confidence, Christ ascended in order
to make intercession for us, and so we read in St. Paul’s letter to the
Hebrews, “He is able… to save forever them that come to God by Him,
always living to make intercession for us.” (Hb 7:25); and in
another place, “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
just.” (1 Jn 2:1)
Third, by way of detaching us from earthly things, Christ ascended to
draw our hearts to Him, and so we read in St. Matthew’s gospel, “Where
thy treasure is, there also is thy heart also.” (Mt 6:21)
It is a healthy spirituality which despises temporal goods in
comparison with heavenly ones and so St. Paul writes in his letter to
the
Colossians, “If you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are
above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Mind the
things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth.”
(Co 3:1-2)
By His ascension,…
Christ has opened the way to heaven and has prepared a place for us in
heaven;
Christ has a seat at the right hand of God the Father where He
intercedes for us;
Christ has shown us where we must place our hearts.
If we seek the things that are above we shall surely profit from His
ascension and follow Him there.