He ascended into heaven.

Today we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. Forty days after preaching, teaching, and appearing to His apostles during the Easter Season, Jesus ascended into heaven, in His human form, to sit at the right hand of God. That must have been an amazing sight for the apostles. But what significance does Ascension have for us today?

Jesus became man to show us the way to the Father. He died for our sins and opened the pathway to heaven. Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus’ earthly ministry of fulfilling God’s will was complete. His time of living among us was at an end. It was time for Jesus to return triumphantly to His place beside the Father.

In celebrating the Ascension of the Lord, we are reminded that we, too, have an earthly ministry. Jesus’ work is our work. He has shown us the way. We must pick up and bear our crosses while we carry out God’s will on earth. Jesus is our strength and our inspiration. Ascension also reminds us that Jesus returned to heaven to prepare a place for us. By continuing His mission and living by His example, we will one day be taken to that place. We will join the holy ones for eternity.