Meditation by Pope Francis

Regina Cæli

Saint Peter's Square

Sunday, May 29, 2022

In the liturgy, the Gospel of Luke recounts the last appearance of the risen Lord to the disciples (cf. 24:46-53). Jesus' earthly life culminates precisely with the Ascension, which we also profess in the Creed: "He has ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father." What does this event mean? How should we understand it? To answer this question, let us consider two actions that Jesus performs before ascending into Heaven: first, he announces the gift of the Spirit, and then he blesses the disciples. He announces the gift of the Spirit and blesses them.

First, Jesus says to his friends, “And behold, I am going to send you what my Father has promised” (v. 49). He is speaking of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the One who will accompany them, guide them, support them in their mission, and defend them in spiritual battles. We then understand something important: Jesus does not abandon the disciples. He ascends to heaven, but he does not leave us alone. On the contrary, it is precisely by ascending to the Father that he ensures the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, of his Spirit. On another occasion, he had said, “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you” (Jn 16:7), that is, the Spirit. Here too we can see Jesus’ love for us: his presence does not seek to limit our freedom. On the contrary, it makes room for us, because true love always generates a closeness that doesn't overwhelm; it isn't possessive, it is close but not possessive. On the contrary, true love makes us protagonists. And so, Christ reassures us: “I am going to the Father, and you will be clothed with power from on high. I will put my Spirit within you, and by his power you will carry on my work in the world” (cf. Lk 24:49). Thus, in ascending to heaven, Jesus, instead of remaining close to a few with his body, becomes close to all with his Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes Jesus present within us, beyond the barriers of time and space, to make us his witnesses in the world.

Immediately afterward—this is the second action—Christ raises his hands and blesses the apostles (cf. v. 50). This is a priestly gesture. God, since the time of Aaron, had entrusted to the priests the task of blessing the people (cf. Num 6:26). The Gospel wants to tell us that Jesus is the high priest of our lives. Jesus ascends to the Father to intercede on our behalf, to present our humanity to him. Thus, under the Father's gaze, there are and always will be, with the humanity of Jesus, our lives, our hopes, our wounds. Thus, by making his "exodus" to Heaven, Christ "opens the way" for us; he will prepare a place for us and, from this moment on, he intercedes for us, so that we may always be accompanied and blessed by the Father.

Brothers and sisters, let us reflect today on the gift of the Spirit we have received from Jesus to be witnesses of the Gospel. Let us ask ourselves if we truly are; and also if we are capable of loving others, allowing them freedom and giving them space. And then: do we know how to be intercessors for others, that is, do we know how to pray for them and bless their lives? Or do we use others for our own interests? Let us learn this: intercessory prayer, interceding for the hope and suffering of the world, interceding for peace. And let us bless with our eyes and with our words those we meet every day!

Let us now pray to the Virgin Mary, the blessed among women, who, filled with the Holy Spirit, always prays and intercedes for us.