Here is part of today’s Gospel, from St Luke: ‘Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.  And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God’.

St Bede the Venerable commented: ‘“While he was blessing them, he departed from them and was carried into heaven.” We must note that the Saviour ascended into heaven after he gave his blessing to his disciples. At the same time, we must remember that, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, angels appeared to them as they were watching his ascension. They said to them, “He will come in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” We must labour with all eagerness to understand that the Lord will descend to judge us in the same form and substance of flesh with which he ascended. Since he departed blessing his apostles, he will also make us worthy of his blessing when he returns. He will give us the same status as those to whom he is going to say as they stand at his right hand, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, receive the kingdom.”’

The icon below, which is in the public domain, shows the event.

Today, let us adore Him who has thus ascended into the heavens, to take His seat at the right hand of His Father; and may God bless you and be close to you.