Painting of the Ascension of Jesus

The Ascension

Detail: Jesus Ascending to Heaven

Glorious Mystery 2 of 5.

Scripture

And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?’

Acts 1:6–11; Luke 24:50–53

Meditation

Forty days after the Resurrection, Jesus blesses his disciples and is taken up out of their sight. The Church is left looking up — until two angels remind them that they have work to do. The Ascension does not remove Christ from us; it places his humanity at the right hand of the Father, where he intercedes for us still.

Fruit of the mystery

Hope