What is the relevance of Ascension in the 21st Century?

Why it is important to follow the holy festivals through the year? These festivals mark milestones in our personal development. They are a map to the changes that take place in us as we become more and more aware of ourselves as spiritual beings. If we didn’t have these markers we might wonder if we have changed at all.

As we approach Ascension in a few days time on May 14, 2015, we can look back over the past weeks of the Resurrection period, as well as the death we experienced at Easter. What died for us at Easter? It could have been a habit, or an idea we thought was important, or it could have been a relationship, or even an aspect of relationship.

To enter into Ascension properly we need to look at the details of what happened to Christ Jesus. The Christ Spirit entered fully into the body of Jesus on the cross and shortly after, in the grave, the overwhelming power of the Christ Spirit dissolved the physical body of Jesus completely. Christ was able to wander around in his phantom body – a physical body with no flesh – and comfort the disciples by continuing to teach them and be with them. This stopped at Ascension. St John has this to report, “A little while, and you will see me no more; again a little while, and you will see me.” Jn 16:16

We know that if we are going to change an idea, an aspect of a relationship, or a habit, whatever it is, then we need a rest from it. We need a complete break, then we can come back it with a new attitude. This is the gift of Ascension. It encourages us to be open, not fixed in the way we relate to things in our lives. If we experience the power of Ascension by opening up to possibilities then we will be in a good position to receive into ourselves the fire of Pentecost on May 24, 2015

The Ascension By James Tissot 1886-1894