“Up Like A Bubble Without Any Trouble” — The Ascension of Christ

May 21, 2026 during Divine Liturgy

On the feast of the Ascension of Christ, Fr. Matthew Howell relies heavily on passages from The Feasts of the Lord by Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos (chapter 11) to highlight some themes of the feast. He starts by describing the three births of Christ (in the flesh, baptism, and resurrection) and how a major event in His life occurred 40 days after each of those “births.” He then talks about how all mankind will rise at the end of time but only the saints will ascend, so that the feast of the Ascension is the feast of deification. He then moves on to highlight liturgical acts that point to the Ascension. He finishes by reminding everyone that the Ascension is not just a feast of Christ but is personal for each and every one of us because we are all called to be enthroned with God the Father in Heaven, but it is our will and our desire for worldly things that separate us from Him. At that point, he ties in a quote from Archimandrite Lazarus Moore of blessed memory, and finishes with the famous quote from St. Herman of Alaska about loving God above all else.

**Correction: During the homily, Fr. Matthew misspoke about the liturgical action before the Great Entrance. What he meant to say, and what actually happens, is that the priest lifts the aer (large, outer veil cover) from off the diskos and chalice and says “Lift up your hands to the holies and bless the Lord,” and gives it to the deacon or puts it on his own shoulders for the Great Entrance. Then, when picking up the diskos (plate) that has the bread prepared which will become the consecrated Body of Christ, the priest says, “God has gone up with a shout; the Lord with the sound of jubilation,” a very clear reference to the Ascension of Christ. Fr. Matthew asks forgiveness for this mistake during the homily.**

Previous Homilies for the Feast of the Ascension:

 

Acts of the Apostles 1:1-12

In the first book, O Theophilos, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel?” He said to them, “it is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Then they returned from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.

Luke 24:36-53

At that time, having risen from the dead, Jesus went up and stood among His disciples and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; handle Me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of broiled fish [and some honeycomb], and He took it and ate before them. Then He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name in all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them. While He blessed them, He parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the Temple blessing God.