Ascension (Feast)
| Ascension | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Window in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles | |
| Observed | the Christians |
| Type | Religious Celebration |
| Meaning | Celebrating the ascension of Jesus Christ |
| Date | Forty days after Easter. |
| Previous date | May 13, 2010 |
| Current Date | June 2, 2011 |
| Next date | May 17, 2012 |
| Related | Easter |
Ascension is a feast Christian celebrated forty days after Easter (counting the Sunday of Easter). It therefore falls on a Thursday of the month of May. In the tradition and the Christian faith, it marks the elevation of heaven Jesus of Nazareth after his resurrection and the end of his earthly presence.
The Ascension is a holiday in many countries ( Germany , in Austria , in Belgium , in Denmark , in Finland , in France , in Iceland , in Liechtenstein , in Luxembourg , in Norway , the Netherlands , in Sweden , in Switzerland , in Burundi , in Madagascar , in Namibia , in Colombia , in Haiti , in Indonesia , in Vanuatu , etc..).
The next date is Ascension Thursday, May 17, 2012.
Summary |
The Ascension of the Lord means, as Christians, when Jesus was raised to the sky. Present in the New Testament , Ascension is a theme found in the Greco-Roman mythology ( Hercules , Romulus ) ascend to heaven, is symbolically join the divine domain. Do not confuse the Ascension with the Assumption , built late apocryphal tradition recently a dogma by the Roman Catholic Church and that Mary of Nazareth, mother of Jesus, would also rise to heaven.
The New Testament sources
The main sources of the stories of the ascension of Jesus of Nazareth after the episode of the Resurrection can be found in two texts, in light of their unity as theological literature, are probably written by the same author: the Gospel according to Luke . Luke is alone among the evangelists to tell that this episode is the end of the first book and introduces the second, which led researchers to postulate that the two documents were not originally a single .
The episode of the Ascension in Luke's description of the cycle of various appearances of the Risen Easter, concludes the action of Jesus' earthly at the same time it marks the "culmination of , its entry into the celestial sphere and the beginning of his absence. This conclusion is a positive connotation, Jesus blesses his disciples who welcome this departure in joy. The separation itself is not due to Jesus who is the subject of an act of God, as demonstrated by passive verbs used in the different passages Lucanian .
The Acts provide the episode as the beginning of "time of testimony" : believers are only now but "off mission" pending the return of Jesus. Thus, in the Basilicata stories featuring the Risen One, it does not make a miracle - unlike the Johannine passage - which are instead the result of witnesses inspired by the name of Jesus .
It is possible that the author of Luke and Acts inspired by a folk tradition, drawing a parallel with the respective assumptions Moses , of Enoch or Isaiah , or with other cautionary tales featuring the elevation of illustrious personages of the Greek and Roman mythology, like Romulus , Hercules or Medea , or even apotheosis of Roman emperors, a narrative approach and tend to historicize the phenomenon of Jesus elevation .
Mark 16, 19
19: The Lord, after talking to them, was taken to heaven, and sat at the right hand of God.
Luke 24, 50-53
50: He led them down to Bethany , and lifted up his hands, he blessed them.
51: While he blessed them he parted from them and was taken to heaven.
52: For them, having loved it, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy;
53: and they were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.
Acts 1, 8-11
8: But ye shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
9: Having said this, he was taken up before their eyes, and a cloud hid him from their eyes.
10: And as they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white,
11: and said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken into heaven with you, come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Catholic Theology
This fortieth day marks the end of the physical presence of Jesus on earth, after his death and resurrection. But Jesus did not abandon the men they sent his Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost , and constantly intercedes on their behalf with God the Father (Heb 9, 25).
Ten days after Jesus' ascension into heaven at the Pentecost , the Apostles realize they are the church and start preaching the Gospel.
References
- Luke 24. 50-53.
- Acts 1. 3-12.
- a , b and c Marguerat Daniel, Introduction to the New Testament: its history, its writing, its theology, ed. Labor et Fides / The World of the Bible, 2008, p. 127.128, excerpt online.
- a , b , c and d Marguerat Daniel, The dawn of Christianity, ed. Bayard / Labor et Fides, 2008, p. 425-427.
- John 21. 4-6.
See also
Gallery
 Apocalypse of Bamberg | |||
 Ascension of Christ, icon of Novgorod , XIV century |  A panel of Triptych of the Offices of Andrea Mantegna |
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