The feast of the Ascension is when we celebrate Christ ascending into heaven, after having been resurrected from the dead. We are told in the book of Acts that Christ walked the earth for 40 days in his resurrected body, so the Ascension is celebrated on the 40th day of the Easter season each year. This event signifies to us that God the Son has been reunited with God the Father, where he will remain until the time comes for him to usher in God’s kingdom. We also remember this every Sunday when we say the Nicene Creed (“he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.”).
Though we believe Christ has ascended into heaven, we also affirm his continual presence among us. Thus, the collect for the day of Ascension states, “Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages.”
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