About the mystery of Christ’s Ascension, the Catechism teaches us, “This final stage stays closely linked to the first, that is, to his descent from heaven in the Incarnation. Only the one who came from the Father can return to the Father: Christ Jesus.” (661)

I bring these words to mind today, in the hopes of offering a simple reflection. I apologize that I cannot offer anything more. Certainly, the “close link” between the great mystery of the Incarnation and the mystery of Christ’s Ascension merits a deeper theological explanation. I am convinced of this in faith. But in practice I am not the man to attempt it, for it belongs to sharper minds and purer consciences to bring from the depths of Christ’s mysteries the pearls of divine wisdom. I can only offer you something simple and it is this: the “close link” of humble simplicity.

There is a simplicity in both mysteries that inspire an admiration for Jesus’ humility. Just as quietly as He came down from heaven, so He returns to heaven quietly. The Gospels do not speak of His Ascension with grandiose theatrics. No resounding of trumpets. No shaking of mountains. No choirs of angels. He “was taken up to heaven” in the close company of His Apostles with a simplicity as reminiscent as He descended from heaven in the close company of Mary.

Then he led them out as far as Bethany,
raised his hands, and blessed them.
As he blessed them, he parted from them
and was taken up to heaven. (Lk 24)

What does this simplicity of Jesus’ actions teach us? That Christ grows in us and brings to completion His work in us in equally humble simplicity. He comes to us; He wants to live and grow in us; He wants to use us, just as we are.

I can take no credit for this connection either. It is found in the writing of Caryll Houselander in her book The Reed of God.

We are all asked if we will surrender what we are, our humanity, our flesh and blood to the Holy Spirit and allow Christ to fill the emptiness formed by the particular shape of our life.

The surrender that is asked of us includes complete and absolute trust; it must be like Our Lady’s surrender, without condition and without reservation.

We shall not be asked to do more than the Mother of God; we shall not be asked to become extraordinary or set apart or to make a hard and fast rule of life or to compile a manual of mortifications or heroic resolutions…

What we shall be asked to give is our flesh and blood, our daily life—our thoughts, our service to one another, our affections and loves, our words, our intellect, our waking, working, and sleeping, our ordinary human joys and sorrows—to God.

To surrender all that we are, as we are.

As simple and as mundane as our lives may seem, Christ wants to use us. He wants to use every opportunity and circumstance—even the simplest ones—to bring His patience, His mercy, His compassion, His justice, and His charity into the world.

It takes faith to see God at work in the ordinariness of human life. But this is our Catholic faith. God works through the ordinary. Through the ordinary He enacts something extraordinary. That something extraordinary is our growth in grace, our growth in Christ, our preparation for heaven.

I challenge you to look through Marian eyes as Jesus ascends into heaven. Then look with those same Marian eyes into your own heart and see what the ordinary things are you are failing to let Him use. Surrender them to Him and let Him take new life in you so that one day He may share His glory with you in heaven.