The people, all kneeling, have arched back their heads to follow Jesus,
Who ascends higher until a cloud, shimmering, appears out of nowhere and
covers Jesus completely, thus taking Him from sight."
All of this has taken place in a relatively short period of time, yet to
those who bear witness they have no sense of time for they have seen Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, in all of His Glory ascend to Heaven.
My eyes are immediately drawn to the Blessed Mother. The two angels who
had descended to stand with her now lift the Mother of God up. They do so
effortlessly, as if she was a feather. Yet, I see our Blessed Mother still
in her place, while my soul sees that she is being carried up into Heaven
where her Divine Son has ascended.
I understand that an angel has taken her form, so as not to disturb anyone
in the crowd.
I am permitted to see interiorly that Mary, Mother of God, is carried
before the Throne of God where she prostrates herself before The Most
Blessed Trinity. I hear her prayer of pure love flow to the Trinity. A
prayer of love, of thanksgiving for all the graces given unto her, and for
the fulfillment of the Divine Will.
In these timeless moments Mother and Son gaze upon one another. Their
hearts truly are united. The Mother of God is asked by the Father if she,
who is truly His beloved daughter, would remain with her Son, for her total
humility and loving obedience have won the Heart of the Trinity, who as One
will give to Mary whatever she would ask.
The Mother of God does not hesitate. Though her ecstatic gaze remains
transfixed upon her Divine Son, she offers her response in prayer of petition.
"May You be highly praised, Most Holy Trinity for Your goodness to Your
lowly servant. Yet, I petition You to give yet more assistance to Your
children in their exile. Bless Your lowly servant and allow one so lowly
to return to earth, so that the Gospel of my Divine Son may take root and
flourish. Your Will always be done, O my God. I am Thy servant."
And the angels of Heaven raise their voices to praise the selflessness of
the Virgin Mother of God. Jesus comes forward and blesses His Mother.
"You will ever be in My Sacred Heart, O Mother most pure. Yes, go not to
those who have heard My call, You will guide them as a true mother. You
will prepare them as only My Mother could, for all that is yet to come."
Mary, her face more radiant than I have ever seen it, looks at Jesus and
would reach out to touch Him Whom she bore, but even in this she is humble
and does not permit her heart this satisfaction. I cannot explain how it
happens, but in an instant, even less, the Virgin Mother of God is back
upon earth and the angel who had assumed her appearance takes flight to
Heaven.
It is at this time - have only a few seconds passed? I do not know - that
the crowd who gazes upwards beholds a messenger from God, appearing in the
exact spot where Jesus had stood. This man is dressed all in white, and as
he gazes over the assembled people, he is joined by yet another heavenly
messenger. To all assembled they look perfectly normal, and it is thought
by many that they are passersby who have been drawn to the spot by the
large gathering.
But these two messengers speak, and their voices blend as one. Their
words reach to every person present.
"Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to Heaven? This Jesus Who
has been taken up from you into Heaven shall come in the same way as you
have seen Him going up to Heaven."
Then these messengers are gone, and the full meaning of their words sinks
in to the minds and hearts of each person. It is John, whose pure love has
allowed him to 'see' in his soul and understand in his soul's intellect
much more than any other, except the Mother of God.
"Come, Holy Mother. We will return now to the house."
"Yes," answers the ever-gentle mother, "there we must offer prayer to the
Most High for all the graces He has bestowed."
"O, Holy Mother, you will help us to pray as one should, with love from
the heart," says Mary of Magdala. "We will learn from you so that at all
times we may always remain faithful to the Master."
And so it is that the Mother of God, escorted by St. John, leads the way
back into the city and into the sanctuary of the House of the Last Supper.
I note that more than one of the Apostles and disciples look back to the
spot where they have last seen Jesus, and there escapes from their lips a
sigh from their heart. He is gone from the sight of their mortal eyes, but
He remains in their souls who long for Him with greater and greater ardor.
There again are no comments from the citizens, for the angels of God still
stand guard until the last person has entered the home and the door is shut
and the inside bolt is slid into place. My interior vision ends here.