Meditations on the Ascension

Richard Salbato

Before Each Hail Mary

1. The Angel that rolled back the stone of the tomb of Jesus sat upon it. He said to the women: “Fear not for you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen as He prophesied. Look and see where He was laid. Go quickly, tell His disciples that He has risen, and He will go to Galilee where you will see Him.” The eleven Apostles went to Galilee with the holy women, and Mary.

2. Two of Christ’s disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, and in great sadness were talking about the horror of the past two days in Jerusalem and the death of Jesus. Suddenly Jesus appeared walking with them. He asked why they were so sad. “Are you the only one who does not
know what has happened in Jerusalem regarding Jesus? We hoped that He would redeem Israel.”

“O foolish and slow to believe what all the prophets have spoken of. Should not Christ have to suffer all these things before entering into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets He explained how Christ had to die and rise again to redeem mankind. When they reached the Inn, Jesus dined with them. During the dinner He took bread and wine and holding it up to Heaven He blessed it and gave it to the two disciples. Instantly they recognized that it was Jesus, and He disappeared.

3. The two disciples ran back to the Apostles, and told them that they had seen Jesus. While they were still talking, Jesus stood in their midst. “See my hands and feet, touch and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and blood as you see I have. Give me something to eat.” Christ ate fish and honeycomb to show that he was not a vision or a spirit, but a real person.

4. Christ said to the Apostles: “Go into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He that believes and is baptized will be saved. He that does not believe will be condemned. These signs will follow them that believe: in my name they will cast out devils, they will speak all tongues, serpents will not hurt them, poison will not harm them, and they will cure the sick and dying.”

5. Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James and John went to the sea of Tiberius to fish. All through the night they fished but caught nothing. In the morning Jesus shouted out to them from the shore but they did not recognize Him. “Do you have any fish?” They answered that they had nothing. Jesus then told them to caste their net on the other side of the boat and that they would catch some fish. They did this and immediately caught so many fish the net was about to break.

6. John shouted out, “It is the Lord.” Peter girded himself and jumped into the sea and swam to the shore. It was 600 feet to the shore, but Peter was a strong swimmer. The others took the boat to shore behind him. Jesus said to them: “Bring the fish to me and He prepared the fish and ate with them to again prove that He was real and not an illusion or a spirit.

7. After they had eaten Jesus turned to Peter. Three times Christ asked Peter if he loved him and each time Peter said he did. Jesus then commanded him to feed his lambs and sheep with the knowledge and love that Jesus gave to him.

8. After His resurrection, Jesus stayed 40 days appearing to His Apostles and disciples, teaching then about the Kingdom of God and commanding them to go out and preach the Kingdom, and to baptize all nations. He again stressed that Peter would hold the Keys to His New Kingdom and would be the final word in any dispute. He gave His Mother to all of them to be their Mother. He bade them goodbye. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to them, who would teach them all things and bring to their minds all that He had taught them.

9. The next day Jesus went up to Mount Olivet with hundreds of His followers. Standing at the top in view of everyone, He raised His right hand and blessed the entire world. Right after this a great light came out of the Heavens and engulfed Jesus. He transformed into a dazzling light and began to rise up slowly into the light. Little by little He disappeared into the light. But the great beam of light did not go away. It remained for some time stretching out from the highest heavens to the top of Mount Olivet.

10. Two figures could be seen coming down from Heaven in the light clothed in long white garments. Each held a staff in one hand. With voices like trumpets, they said: “Men of Galilee, why do you look up to Heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you to Heaven, will come again in the same way as you have seen Him go.” At that, the Angels and the light vanished. This will be how Jesus will come again in the last days of earth.