Ascension Sunday: Finding Jesus Today

A fascinating and strange exchange occurs between Mary Magdalene and Jesus outside of the empty tomb. Jesus says to Mary, who has been searching desperately for his body, "Stop holding onto me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father." What beguiles us is that union with Jesus -- holding on to him and being held by him ("remaining" with him, as he puts it) is the goal of our spiritual life. So why this remark from Jesus that seems to contradict this spiritual truth? At Pentecost the Church will discover the answer. Jesus goes to the Father not to leave us but to send the Holy Spirit -- the Spirit of Love he shares with the Father -- right into our hearts. So its not less intimacy that Jesus wants with Mary but more intimacy. And the way that he will achieve it is by not remaining at an arm's distance from her (which he necessarily does while he remains bodily on earth) but by sending his Spirit into her, achieving the intimate union he desires with her from within.

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