Ascension: Presence, Not Absence

In his earthly life, Jesus was limited by space and time. At the Ascension, "His visible presence passes over into the sacraments", so every drop of water can be the path to divine life through baptism. Every bit of wheat, every splash of wine can make his real, physical, Eucharistic presence available at any altar around the globe.

(Sorry, it's midnight on Ascension Thursday: I'm just going to post my notes so you can get the Leo the Great quotes. Listen below for the body of the homily. It's 3.5 minutes.)

Ascension, Year B

More Present, Not Absent 

We think of it the wrong way: Jesus has left us

Here for 3 years, 40 days....gone

Hard thing for us 

Like end of vacation, grandparents

Not what Church says 

If anything: when he ascends he’s with us more permanently

Leo the Great 

Leo: And so our Redeemer’s visible presence has passed over into the sacraments. Our faith is nobler and stronger because sight has been replaced by a [faith] whose authority is accepted by believing hearts, enlightened from on high. 

Weird. But on earth he was limited 

Can’t be in Judea and Nazareth at same time

Can’t be in Rome, China, or America

But as Leo says: he passes into

So every drop of water 

Wheat, wine

Actually do more 

Leo: This faith was increased by the Lord’s ascension and strengthened by the gift of the Spirit; it would remain unshaken by fetters and imprisonment, exile and hunger, fire and ravening beasts, and the most refined tortures ever devised by brutal persecutors. 

Throughout the world women no less than men, tender girls as well as boys, have given their life’s blood in the struggle for this faith. It is a faith that has driven out devils, healed the sick and raised the dead.

Not less Jesus; more Jesus

Not just more places 

Stronger version of Jesus

Apostles...stunk

Now doing brave things

Needed him to go away

Not just for sacramental graces 

Living out life Leo is saying is only possible because Jesus ascended