Ascension Thursday

Jesus has appeared many times to His friends since the Resurrection. He is walking with them now toward the holy mountain. Mary is now follower more than mother, though she is very highly revered by all, especially the Apostles. She is chief disciple of the Lamb Who was slain. She it was who remained by His side every moment of His earthly life. Of all the apostles it is John who takes special care of her and has her by the arm even now as we walk.

Now we have reached the top . Jesus stands towering over all of us. I am in love with Him. He is all beautiful, all lovely, all perfect! He has conquered death. There is nothing left to do. I am here at the top with Mary, my Mother, with my fathers in faith, with my brothers and sisters-- all the people from my previous meditations, all here! There are Lazarus, Martha, Mary, the thief, the shepherds, the farmers, the children, the lepers He cured, the strong man, the dead He raised, the lady at the well, and even His elderly friends. Oh, they are all here! It is as if the entire world has gathered on this mountaintop. It is a vast crowd! --a great crowd of witnesses to the Living One-- the Lamb Who was slain--The Holy One of Israel!

I hear Him--my Jesus!--speak: "You shall be my witnesses throughout the whole world! Write down what I have said and done. Go to all the lands and all the peoples until the entire earth is flooded with the waters of baptism and all the people have tasted the milk and honey of the Promised Land. Remember Me-- in all you do and think and say. I am with you always- until the end of time."

I am taking in every word, as all of us are. I am overwhelmed with love. I want to remain here forever,..... listening, watching, loving Him forever. As we surround Him, hemming Him in, Jesus begins to rise above us and clouds coming from all directions gather around and engulf Him. As I study this phenomena, I can distinguish human-like figures among the clouds and I realize that they are ushering Jesus back home to His Father. I think that Jesus must feel like I do so often in my meditations when I am "going home to Nazareth." I am happy and dazed as I watch Him rise, but I am waiting...waiting for Him to look back one last time- to give me that oh-so-familiar smile...I am waiting...

when I hear a voice close by saying, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand staring into the sky?" I am stunned and shaken as I see the bearers of these words: two angelic figures of exquisite beauty with radiant faces. "He will return to you just as surely as you saw Him leave this day!"

The messengers disappear almost as quickly as they came but their words give great comfort as I did not know why Jesus did not look upon me one more time. Now I understand that I will see Him again soon. I am full of some kind of "magical," mystical knowing deep in my soul--anticipation--eager longing--like the feeling of a bride as she says goodbye to her beloved the night before their Wedding Day.

"Mother!" I cry out. "Let us prepare! What must we do?" I am trembling with nervous energy, my hands in Mary's. She is looking at me, at each of us with her most lovely eyes twinkling and glazing with joyous tears. She smiles with uncontainable gladness.

"We must all wait in patience and allow our joy to take root; prepare our hearts for His return. He shall surely send us His Holy Spirit and then we shall be His Bride!" Our Lady encourages us.

"You may all join us in the Sacred Quarters," invites Joseph of Arimathea, speaking of the Upper Room where Jesus ate the Passover meal. "We shall meet there every night until the promise has been fulfilled." Turning to Mary he suggests, " Dearest Lady, shall we return home and make the preparations for our guests?" Then, to the vast crowd he says, "Allow us a day's preparation and meet us there tomorrow evening."

There is great excitement bubbling up within the crowd, yet they remain orderly and quiet as they dissemble for the evening. Everyone is hugging each other, caressing the children, assisting the elderly to their homes. It is the feeling of a group of friends planning a surprise party of an honored guest. All go quietly home, eagerly awaiting the meeting of tomorrow night.