Pope Francis reflected on the Ascension of the Lord and said that two questions may arise on this solemnity: why celebrate the departure of Jesus from earth?, and what is Jesus doing on the Darling? on 21 May, Sunday
On the first question, the Pontiff indicated that the departure of Christ would seem to be a sad moment, “not exactly something to be happy about.”
However, he explained that this departure is celebrated “because with the Ascension something new and beautiful happened: Jesus has taken our humanity, our flesh to Heaven – it is the first time! -that is, he has led her to God”.
“That humanity, which had taken on earth, has not stayed here. The risen Jesus was not a spirit, no, he had his human body, flesh, bones, everything, and there, in God, he will be forever, “he told the 25,000 faithful gathered in Saint Peter’s Square.
In this sense, he affirmed, “we can say that since the day of the Ascension, God himself has ‘changed’: since then he is no longer just a spirit, but because of all that he loves us, he carries within himself our very flesh, our humanity!”.
“The place that awaits us is indicated, our destination is there”, said the Pope, and recalled the words of Saint Gregory of Nysa on the Resurrection: “Splendid news! He who has become man for us […], to make us his brothers, presents himself as a man before the Father, to take with him all those who are united to him ”.
For this reason, the Holy Father affirmed, “today we celebrate ‘the conquest of Heaven’: Jesus who returns to the Father, but with our humanity. And so Heaven is already a little bit ours. Jesus has opened the door and his body is there”.
On the second question, Pope Francis explained that Christ “is for us before the Father, he continually shows him our humanity, he shows the wounds.”
“I like to think that Jesus, before the Father, prays like this, showing him his wounds. ‘This is what I have suffered for men: do something!’ He teaches him the price of redemption, and the Father is moved. This is something I like to think about. This is how Jesus prays,” said the Pontiff.
Pope Francis assured the faithful that Jesus “has not left us alone. In fact, before ascending he told us, as the Gospel says today: ‘And behold, I am with you always until the end of the world’ ”.
“He is always with us, he looks at us, he is ‘always alive to intercede’ on our behalf. To show the wounds to the Father, for us. In a word, Jesus intercedes; he is in the best ‘place’, before his and our Father, to intercede for us”, he affirmed.
The Holy Father indicated that “intercession is fundamental.” “This faith also helps us: it helps us not to lose hope, not to get discouraged. Before the Father there is someone who shows him the wounds and intercedes. May the Queen of Heaven help us to intercede with the strength of prayer”, he concluded.