We read a strange thing in the account of Our Lord’s Ascension. The disciples accompany Jesus and he raises his arms in blessing as he ascends to his Father. In our imagination we could see them weeping and consoling one another at the farewell of this perfect friend and teacher. That is not what happens. It says they returned to Jerusalem rejoicing. In his book Jesus of Nazareth part two our Holy Father contemplates the same phenomenon. He tells us that the disciples and we can rejoice because Jesus is now not limited by our time and space. Having returned to the Father he is now for all time in “divine space”. He now belongs intimately to all of us. Those who lived with Jesus in Israel were fortunate to meet him once or twice in a lifetime. They might touch his robe and be healed but then he moves on “to the other cities of Israel”. Today we need only turn our mind and heart to him and our friend, consoler, Lord and God is there with us.
Let us not neglect the privileged presences of Jesus to us: the Sacred Scriptures and the Eucharist. Both are concrete and available to our senses. They are the keys to renewing our understanding the mystical presence of Jesus with us always.
Mother Franziska drew her courage and strength from this presence of Christ. She was very aware of Jesus living in her heart, in the Eucharist and in the Holy Scripture which she frequently quoted. As she traveled across the Empire she saluted Jesus in the tabernacle of the churches whose towers passed her train or coach window.
Let us not be afraid of a personal relationship with Christ and his mother and the saints who preceded us. It is countercultural and we will sometimes feel alone. We are not alone, all over the world are Christians ready to serve and lay down their lives for Jesus and their neighbor. Jesus promised that he would be with us always and at every Mass we celebrate that he will come again. So we can rejoice. The Easter joy is not for a day, a week, or a season. He is risen! Forever!
