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The Apostolate for the Faith
The Ascension, 2006
“That in all things God may be honoured through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The closing words of today’s epistle refer to the way we live our lives; our everyday conduct, in all things, as Catholics. And the prophecy of the Apocalypse is given to us for the very purpose of guiding us in the spiritual life. Let us not forget that when we were born-again by water and the Holy Ghost, we became citizens of the Kingdom of Christ – a kingdom that is not of this world; it was then we began to share in the divine life of sanctifying grace with the promise of eternal joys. When we speak of living with the Church we mean precisely that — living the life of the spirit first and before all; while at the same time fulfilling whatever our duties may be in this world to the best of our ability.
We left the Apocalypse, you remember, at the moment that St John had the vision of one “like to the Son of Man”: it was the Christ transfigured: moving among the seven Golden lamps, which symbolise the whole Church. They are Golden lamps because they are permeated with the grace of God, and therefore are His precious possessions. The light of each one enlightens the pagan world in its own way. The flames allude to the tongues of fire that appeared at Pentecost, and to the eyes of the Lamb. The churches are able to enlighten the world, because the Spirit of God is within them and operates through them. Each gift of the Holy Ghost manifests itself in the Church and in the lives of Christians and therefore although consisting of but one element they are seven separate flames; and furthermore these seven Lamps reveal the kinship of the Catholic Church to the Holy Spirit and visibly manifest His varied influences and activities.
The white garment flowing to the feet of Christ is the emblem of His priesthood; the white linen also symbolises the eminent holiness of Christ and is the emblem of Victory resulting from that Holiness. The girdle around His breast indicates the immunity of His human nature from all carnal as well as sinful desires. And since it is gold, it represents His Kingship; Gold is also a symbol of the divine wisdom of Christ’s human mind. “Son of Man” designates Prophet; the white garment, priest; the Girdle of gold, King.
The whiteness of His hair and forehead show forth His eternity and divine wisdom, and His ability to guide the Church aright. The whole description recalls that of God, “the ancient of days”. His eyes flame with wrath towards all wickedness, “as the one Who searches the reins and the hearts”; but for the good and the faithful His eyes beam with the fire of divine love. The feet of burnished bronze indicate stability and destructive power. He will tread upon everything unholy and will consume it with fire. These glowing feet menace all who give way to false teachings, false moral standards, hypocrisy and apostasy. His voice is “like the sound of many waters”: Christ’s voice threatens and warns the wicked; and defends and encourages the good; He announces His decrees to His Church and halts the attacks of enemies. The waters symbolise the peoples of the earth [Gregory; Bede]. His voice is re-echoed among all peoples, and by it He subjects them all to Himself.
The seven stars that Christ holds in His right hand represent the Bishops who are the official teachers of Christ's doctrine; the two edged sword shows the power of His word, its truth and punitive authority ... it will pierce the hearts of sinners [Heb. 4–12] and bring everlasting death to those who resist it: as St. Bede says: “The Word of Christ will make the wicked feel the justice of His judgements before which all His enemies will come to grief.” The whole vision represents Christ as the bearer of Life: He is “the life” or the “living One” — it is not the mortal life which He had before His crucifixion but the immortal life which He possesses for ever. These thoughts should help us all to have firm trust in the designs of God; absolute trust in the promise of Christ — “Behold I will be with you all days even to the consummation of the world.” And our life must be lived with Him in His Church. That Church which in her wisdom has so arranged the liturgical year that we may, year after year, through the divine life of grace, follow Christ from the Annunciation through His birth, His enlightening of all who listened to Him and accepted His teaching; praised God for His miracles, and finally with the fullness of faith living through His sacred Passion, His death and glorious resurrection; The days from Good Friday to Pentecost are fixed on the actual anniversary of those days. Now Holy Mother Church leads us through these last forty days in which he confirmed the faith of His disciples and with many proofs established the Infant Church. We turn to the Blessed Trinity in every Mass praying, “Receive O Holy Trinity this oblation which we make to Thee in remembrance of the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ” and even now we ought to be one with Mary the Mother of God all the Apostles and all the Saints as we pray the Novena in response to Christ’s command; beseeching through the Immaculate Heart of Mary an increase in those seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost which we received in the Sacrament of Confirmation, so that we may rejoice in the Life which Christ desired to give more abundantly to all who faithfully follow His teaching, who open their hearts to welcome and to keep His word, and thus look forward with sure hope to rejoice in the glory of His Ascension.
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