Mass is the Ascension Too

We are good at recognizing that the Eucharistic liturgy is the Last Supper re-presented. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that it is also the Sacrifice of the Cross and the power of the Resurrection too. But we generally are not very aware that the Mass is also the Ascension, even though the Mass is the Paschal Mystery, and the Ascension is definitely the completion of Jesus' Paschal Mystery. But it's not just the "going up" aspect. It is in fact all that Jesus does upon returning to the Father: reigning over creation at His right hand, offering his sacrifice perpetually to the Father, pleading and interceding for us forever. This Ascension Thursday homily tries both give a snapshot of what Jesus does in the heavenly temple as well as how Mass copies the shape of Jesus' vocation, but then actually brings to us the reality of his crucified and resurrected person. Also, the music at this Mass showed the progression of those ideas too: Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise and Ascendit Deus, then Before the Throne of God Above, and then Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending —ascending, pleading, reigning but returning someday.