THE ASCENCE OF THE LORD. SAN BUENAVENTURA

 

He will go up before them and open the way for them; so it is said in Micah, c. two.

  

In these words, the prophet includes the mystery corresponding to the solemnity of this day, considering two things, of which the first consists in the exaltation of human nature, which is alluded to when he says: it will rise, and the second in the opening of heaven, regarding this he says: It will open the way for you.

When the prophet says he will go up, he clearly warns that the ascent was carried out not only by Christ, but by others with Him, Christ in fact, ascends before them to direct them, encourage them, help them and prepare their room. And, in this way, those who deliberate are directed so that they can judge righteously; those who really undertake the road to heaven are encouraged to begin decisively; Those who exercise are helped so that they are able to complete the work and, finally, rooms are prepared for those who persevere so that they can enjoy eternal bliss.

This has reason to be because before Christ preceded us, the paths of life were unknown to us, but he himself made them known to us, teaching us justice, mercy and truth, which, according to Saint Augustine in the sermon about the resurrection, are paths that lead us to life. And this writing in Exodus: The Lord went ahead of them to show the way, by day in a pillar of cloud and at night in a pillar of fire, so that he would be the guide of the way at both times. Where it is noted that Christ was at the head as one who carries the candle at night in front of the magnates.

Furthermore, Christ went before them to encourage them, in significance, of which it is said in Exodus: If you do not do good before, do not take us out of this place. And in truth, bad was the road and the deep waters of the ford and that is why Christ stood before him as one who explores them. Indeed, it was necessary to go through the torrents of suffering, a very dangerous and insecure undertaking. Which you will find prefigured in what Judas said to Timothy, in the first book of Maccabees: If when Judas arrives at the torrent we will allow him to pass to us, we could not resist him, because he has an insurmountable force; and behold, as the sacred text continues,Judas crossed the torrent first against the enemies, and all the people after him and the Gentiles were defeated .

In addition, he went up in front of them to help them, as is often the case with pilgrims, among whom the most robust take the lead and are the first to pass the pit to reach out to their other companions. In reference to this, Deuteronomy says: He who ascends above the heavens is their protector. Likewise Hosea: I taught Ephraim to walk and carried him on my arms. Nor was the way Jesus reached out to Peter when he began to sink.

And finally, Jesus went up before them to prepare a dwelling for them, as Saint John says: I am going to prepare the place for you. And in the same chapter below it is added: When I have gone and have prepared the place for you, I will return again and take you with me, so that where I am, you may also be.It therefore appears that Christ ascended before them attempting four purposes inherent in his biography, of which one was realized in his life, the second in his passion, the third in his resurrection and the fourth in his ascension. Because of the first we must be prudent when choosing; because of the second, intrepid to undertake: because of the third, manly to continue and, because of the fourth greedy to consummate, so that, having finished the work, we can enter that dwelling that is prepared for us and where all the goods are within our reach, as it is said in San Mateo: Everything is soon.

We must therefore hurry and Maxime to see how the door opens to us today and how many are those who enter the party. And do not forget to remember here those who went to the banquet.

But because among those who knock at the door, not all manage to enter the kingdom, such is the sentence of the Lord in Saint Matthew: Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, that is why we must try to be so May we be granted entry in pursuit of the Lord, who rises today before his people, opening the way for them. Let us strive to be recognized as members of his family or as his people, for the Lord does not abandon his inheritance. And we think that one is recognized as a relative of a powerful person, sometimes for being acclaimed his supporter, others for being the bearer of some letters, others as an inseparable companion and others, finally, for wearing an identical suit to that of the powerful.

Quadruple dismemberment, where the first signifies the confession of the laity; the second, the wisdom of the clergy; the third the society of the clergy, and the fourth, the imitation of the perfect.

Much could be said about the latter because they are words very closely linked not only to the solemnity of this day but also to the soul. Which should certainly strengthen your faith by drinking from this incorruptible and immortal source.

Hope as a supernatural virtue in a virtue that fills us with joy thinking of eternal life, whose thought is not vain, nor an illusion but a reality revealed by Christ himself who promises and ratifies it on this solemnity with his glorious ascension to the heavens.

Whoever thinks about it increases this virtue in his heart and, as if seeing from afar, the eternal dwellings and what is given in them is capable of disdaining the temporary ones and even giving himself the luxury of disdaining them because they are greater and eternal. This is the fruit of the first glorious mystery: the knowledge of eternal things to the detriment of the worldly and obsolete of the earth.

In the second as that our heart, engulfed in the immensity of the mystery, feels attracted with the glance fixed on the one who is leaving and that is why our face is raised as if to say: Lord, take my heart with you and free me from my ties of death. , and I say death because the things that the earth gives are bitter and painful that, in the long run, cause death and it is better not to fix our eyes on them.

Such is the object of our contemplation on this day that it is necessary that the blessed spirits, effulgent with the light of that eternal glory, come out in our path and say to us: ¿Men of Galilee who are looking at the sky? This Jesus that today you see rising to heaven will return again… and for this reason we await his second coming with great expectation because the waters of the human cistern are quite bitter and only cause desolation to the human soul.

So keep looking up Asia, but with prudence and patience because in them is the prize not only of the heavenly abode nor of its eternal things but the very author of all of them Christ Jesus who lives and reigns with the Father in union of the Holy Spirit. Amen