FAITH: It’s Better That I Go: Understanding the Necessity of the Ascension

Life can often seem dark and overwhelming with uncertainties. Challenges arise, heartaches linger, and we experience real loss that leaves us to question: Where is Christ in all of this? The feast of the Ascension of Christ speaks deeply to these moments of sadness, confusion, and perceived abandonment. It reminds us that even when Christ’s physical presence seems absent, His love and power are never far away.

On the day of the Ascension, the apostles must have felt a bittersweet pang. They had walked beside Jesus, seen His miracles, and witnessed His Resurrection. Now, He was leaving. Imagine the bewilderment and sadness they must have felt watching Him ascend into heaven. They could not yet understand why it was better for Him to leave.

When We Feel Alone, the Advocate Comes

In John 16:7, Jesus told His disciples, “It is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you.” At first glance, it may seem incomprehensible. How could anything be better than Jesus remaining physically with them? But His words pointed to something extraordinary: the coming of the Holy Spirit, the very presence of God dwelling within us.

Jesus, in His human form, was bound by the limits of His humanity. He could only be in one place at a time. But with the gift of the Holy Spirit, God’s presence becomes universal, dwelling within every baptized person. When Christ ascended, He didn’t leave us behind—He became closer to us than ever before.

The Holy Spirit: God Intimately With Us

The Holy Spirit is more than a guide. It is the presence of God living within us. The Spirit forms an intimate part of our lives, allowing us to experience God’s love, wisdom, and strength in ways that are deeply personal. Helping transform the ordinary instances of our lives into deeper invitations to encounter God’s extraordinary love.

Through the Spirit, God is no longer external—He is internal, shaping our hearts, guiding our steps, and walking alongside us through every joy and sorrow. The Spirit allows us to call on God in moments of loneliness and despair, reminding us of our true identity as Children of God and orienting us back to the loving gaze of Our Heavenly Father.

When life feels overwhelming and God seems far away, we need only to pause and call on the Holy Spirit. The Advocate empowers us to rise above our struggles, to see hope in the midst of confusion, and to feel God’s presence as close as our own breath.

The Ascension: A Promise Fulfilled

The Ascension is not just a moment of farewell—it is a moment of promise. Jesus ascended to prepare a place for us in Heaven (John 14:3). Through the Holy Spirit, He ensures that we are never alone, even as we journey toward that promise.

So, when we face life’s uncertainties, let us remember the truth of the Ascension. Jesus’ departure was not abandonment; it was an act of love, allowing Him to be with us in a way more profound than physical presence could ever achieve.

Prayer for the Ascension of Christ

Jesus, I honor You on the feast of Your Ascension into heaven. I rejoice with all my heart at the glory into which You entered to reign as King of heaven and earth. When the struggle of this life is over, give me the grace to share Your joy and triumph in heaven for all eternity.

I believe that You entered into Your glorious Kingdom to prepare a place for me, for You promised to come again to take me to Yourself. Grant that I may seek only the joys of Your friendship and love, so that I may deserve to be united with You in heaven.

In the hour of my own homecoming, when I appear before Your Father to give an account of my life on earth, have mercy on me.

Jesus, in Your love for me, You have brought me from evil to good and from misery to happiness. Give me the grace to rise above my human weakness. May Your Humanity give me courage in my weakness and free me from my sins.

Through Your grace, give me the courage of perseverance, for You have called and justified me by faith. May I hold fast to the life You have given me and come to the eternal gifts You promised.

You love me, dear Jesus. Help me to love You in return. I ask You to grant this special favor:

(Pause and bring your intentions to the Lord, asking for His guidance and strength.)

By Your unceasing care, guide my steps toward the life of glory You have prepared for those who love You. Make me grow in holiness and thank You by a life of faithful service. Amen.

As we celebrate the Ascension, let us hold tightly to the promise of the Holy Spirit, knowing that God is with us and within us—always.