Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord. - Fr. Leo 

As the priest prepares the water and wine for consecration he prays, “Through the mingling of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.”  

This short prayer sums up todays celebration of the Ascension of Our Lord.  What God intended by sending his only Son and with him the Holy Spirit, was that we might live in God as God lives in us.  Meaning, God wants us to share in his divine life, his divinity.

Our preface today confirms the purpose of Christ’s Ascension as we hear the words prayed, “He appeared to all his disciples and was taken up into heaven that he might make us sharers in his divinity.” 

The Eastern Orthodox Church embraces this better that we do.  Or should I say, they recognize it and celebrate it more.  It’s not a blasphemy to say we are to share in Christ’s divinity.  This is not an arrogant claim made by us, it is the will and desire of God.

The unlimited sign of our living in Christ and Christ living in us, as St. Paul was fond of teaching, is humility.  The greatest power is gentleness, mercy and forgiveness.  This is what made Jesus’ witness so profound, and it is the way of life Jesus invites us to share in today’s celebration.

So let us open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, and allow the Spirit to live in us.  To the extent we do, our celebration of Pentecost next week will be an  experience of the presence of God’s love and mercy in us reaching out to others!