Bishop Barron on Why the Ascension of Jesus Matters

Summary

The Ascension of the Lord, often misunderstood as a mythological event, carries deep theological significance when understood through a Jewish lens. Unlike the Greek concept of salvation as an escape from the earthly world, the biblical view emphasizes the transformation of Earth through Heaven. Jesus’ bodily resurrection and Ascension symbolize the union of the divine and earthly realms, with the church’s mission being to continue this work of integration. The Ascension not only affirms the bodily resurrection but commissions the church to bring Heaven and Earth together through its actions, preaching, and life.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Ascension of Jesus is often misunderstood as a mythological idea, especially in the modern, scientifically-driven mindset.
• 😀 The key to understanding the Ascension is to recover a Jewish sense of Heaven and Earth, rather than viewing them as entirely separate realms.
• 😀 Greek philosophy, especially Plato’s idea of salvation, emphasizes escaping the material world for a higher spiritual realm, but this is not the Jewish perspective.
• 😀 In the Jewish view, Heaven is the realm of God and the angels, while Earth is the realm of human beings, animals, and nature, and they are interconnected.
• 😀 The goal of salvation, according to biblical thought, is the transfiguration of Earth by Heaven, not the escape from Earth to Heaven.
• 😀 Jesus’ resurrection emphasizes the bodily nature of salvation, showing that salvation involves the transformation of the physical body, not just the escape of the soul.
• 😀 Jesus’ ascension is not a physical journey to a distant part of the universe, but the translation of Earthly reality into the Heavenly dimension.
• 😀 Pentecost (the descent of the Holy Spirit) parallels the Ascension as Heaven coming down to Earth, further symbolizing the union of the two realms.
• 😀 The Church’s mission is to continue the work of uniting Heaven and Earth, a task that involves preaching, creating Christian art, and building architecture that reflects this unity.
• 😀 The Ascension is not about looking upwards in longing, but about being actively engaged in bringing Heaven and Earth together, as demonstrated by the angels’ message to the disciples.
• 😀 The prayer 'Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven' reflects this deeply Jewish sensibility of transforming Earth through Heaven’s influence.

Q & A

What is the central difficulty people face in understanding the Ascension of the Lord?

Many people today struggle to understand the Ascension of the Lord because it seems like a pre-scientific, mythological idea. The concept of Jesus physically ascending to heaven doesn't align with modern scientific understanding, leading to confusion about its significance.

Why is the Ascension of the Lord difficult to relate to in a contemporary context?

The Ascension is difficult to relate to because it involves a historical event that took place long ago. For modern individuals, the idea of Jesus ascending to heaven might seem irrelevant or disconnected from their daily lives.

What is the key to understanding the Ascension and its relevance?

The key to understanding the Ascension is to recover a Jewish understanding of Heaven and Earth, where Heaven and Earth are not radically separate, but rather interrelate and touch each other in significant ways.

How does Greek philosophy influence modern thinking about Heaven and Earth?

Greek philosophy, especially through Plato’s ideas, tends to dichotomize the earthly and heavenly realms. This view suggests that salvation involves escaping this world to ascend to a higher, transcendent reality, which influences how many people think about Heaven and Earth today.

What is the Jewish understanding of Heaven and Earth, and how does it differ from the Greek view?

In the Jewish understanding, Heaven is the realm of God and angels, and Earth is the realm of human beings, animals, and plants. The two realms are not separate but interrelate and touch each other. In contrast, the Greek view suggests a sharp separation between the earthly and the heavenly, with salvation being an escape from the physical world to a higher realm.

How does the Lord’s prayer reflect a Jewish sensibility about Heaven and Earth?

The Lord's prayer, particularly the line 'Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven,' reflects a Jewish hope for the transformation of Earth by Heaven. It emphasizes the desire for Heaven to become fully present in the earthly realm, rather than an escape from Earth to Heaven.

What is the significance of the Resurrection in a biblical context?

The Resurrection is not about the soul escaping the body to a heavenly realm, as in Greek philosophy. Instead, it is about the embodiment of the risen Jesus, emphasizing the transfiguration of Earth by Heaven. The Resurrection showcases a transformation that affects the physical body and the world.

How does the Ascension of Jesus relate to the concept of Earth being transfigured by Heaven?

The Ascension of Jesus symbolizes the translation of earthly reality into the heavenly dimension. It does not describe a literal space journey, but rather a mystical event where Earth is transformed by Heaven’s power. This event is closely linked to Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit, which also symbolizes the connection between Heaven and Earth.

What role does the church play in the transfiguration of Earth by Heaven?

The church, as the mystical body of Christ, has the responsibility to continue Jesus’ work of bringing Heaven and Earth together. This is seen in acts like preaching, art, architecture, and communal worship, which all serve to unite the earthly and the heavenly realms.

What message do the angels deliver to the disciples after the Ascension?

The angels tell the disciples not to stand looking up into heaven, but to go and do the work that Jesus did. This reinforces the idea that the mission of the church is to bring Heaven and Earth together, not to wait for an escape to Heaven, but to actively engage in transforming the world.