Meditation Twelve, Fourth Week of May, 2003
The Fifth Week of Easter Christ,

Our Savior Ascends into Heaven

Readings: Matt 28: 18 - 20; Mark 10: 43 - 45; Luke 24: 13 - 27; John 10: 14 -18; Acts 3: 11 - 28; 4: 9 - 12; Hebrews 2: 10 - 18

In recent years one of the essential and foundational beliefs of Christianity has been obscured in people's minds by skeptical approaches to the study of the Bible and by great mistakes made in understanding human nature by those who produce works of popular psychology. Despite the obvious collapse of a decent law abiding culture into a media filled with violence, pornography, sexual exploitation and the abuse of others for pleasure, many people do not realize that we human beings need to be saved. It would seem an obvious fact from what's going on. We need to be saved from ourselves, our weaknesses, our sinful inclinations and our innate selfishness. It is strange that in a world so confused and corrupted that more people don't realize how much they need salvation - although some do realize it. By the grace of God many turn away in disgust from the immorality of our time and others turn not from immorality, but from the hopelessness and despair of a world without love or God. In fact, one meets everywhere those who have realized that they need to be saved. Particularly at a time of darkness many realize that they have been cheated and mislead by the empty worldly culture around them. But that realization is only the beginning. We must turn to Our Savior - to Christ who alone can save us and who has ascended on high to await our arrival. He saves us by His holy life leading to His complete sacrifice of obedience, the acceptance of the dangers and limitations of ordinary human existence. The fact is that when evil and good clash there must be suffering and He is lifted up on the cross to draw us to Himself. Why does Christ do this? Why did He who was equal to God become a slave and accept death on the cross? (Philippians 2: 1-11) Every day we need to show a loving loyalty to Our Savior who died for us. The act of gratitude for salvation so deeply bought by Him will fill us with hope for our world because His love alone can overcome all evil. The last words of Our Savior at His Ascension into heaven are about us and our salvation.

Quotation for Meditation

Augustine - (Major Writings p. 39-Crossroad 1995) Book X Chapter 43

But the true Mediator, whom in the secret of Your mercy You have shown to men and sent to men, that by His example they might learn humility - the Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, appeared between sinful mortals and the immortal Just One: for like men He was mortal, like God He was Just; so that, the wages of justice being life and peace, He might, through the union of His own justice with God, make void the death of those sinners whom He justified by choosing to undergo death as they do. He was shown forth to holy men of old that they may be saved by justice with God, make void the death of those sinners whom He justified by choosing to undergo death as they do. He was shown forth by holy men of old that they might be saved by faith in His Passion to come, now that He has suffered it. As a man, He is mediator; but as Word, He is not something in between, for He is equal to God, God with God, and together one God. How much Thou has loved us, O good Father, Who hast spared not even Thine own Son, but delivered Him up for us wicked men! How Thou has loved us, for whom He who thought it not robbery to be equal with Thee became obedient even unto the death of the Cross, He who alone was free among the dead, having power to lay down His life and power to take it up again; for us He was to Thee both Victor and Victim, and Victor became Victim: for us He was to Thee both Priest and Sacrifice, and Priest because Sacrifice: turning us from slaves into Thy sons, by being Thy Son and becoming a slave. Rightly is my hope and strong in Him, who sits at Thy right hand and intercedes for us; otherwise I should despair. For many and great are my infirmities, many and great; but Thy medicine is of more power. We might well have thought Thy Word remote from union with man and so have despaired of ourselves, if it had not been made flesh and dwell among us.

Quiet Time and Then Discussion

Questions for Meditation

1. Do you think about salvation and what it means to you and those dear to you?

2. At what price is our salvation bought for us by Jesus Christ?

Prayer

Jesus, You alone are my Savior, the one who saves me from everlasting death. You are the Savior of those I love and cherish - although they may not know You or love You. Send Your Holy Spirit to give them the abundant grace of the call to salvation. I pray that they and all the world may turn to You in hope and love. I pray that Your Mother, who is the Mother of our salvation, will prayerfully intercede for us all and especially for those who are away from You. She said at Cana "Do whatever He tells you." Lord Jesus, pray that we may at the end of our lives follow You in Your great Ascension. Amen