Back to Heaven

For forty days after His Resurrection, Jesus stayed on earth. He wanted the Apostles to know, without a doubt, that He was truly risen from the dead and He had many things to tell them before going back to Heaven.

When He suddenly stood among the Apostles on Easter Sunday in the room of the Last Supper, Thomas, one of the Twelve, was away. But as soon as the others saw him, they cried out: “We have seen the Lord!” (John 20:25.) Thomas would not believe that Jesus was alive, and said: “Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25.)

All that week the Apostles and the holy women came together in the room of the Last Supper and there talked over the wonderful things that had taken place. Mary Magdalene told again how she had seen Jesus first; Peter and John related again how they had run to the grave Easter morning and found it empty; two of the disciples described once more the walk they had taken Easter afternoon to the little town of Emmaus. They had not yet seen Jesus and they were very sad as they talked over His death. A stranger joining them on the road, asked what they were saying and why they were so sorrowful. And one of them answered: “‘Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things that have been done there in these days?’

“To whom He said: ‘What things?’ And they said: ‘Concerning Jesus of Nazareth … and how our chief priests … crucified Him?’” (Luke 24:18-20.) And they told how they had hoped that He was really the Savior of the world, but that now they were losing heart, for the day on which He had promised to come alive again was drawing to a close and they had not yet seen Him.

Then their companion explained to them how all things had happened just as Christ had intended, and He talked so wonderfully and with such wisdom that their hearts were on fire as they listened.

“And they drew nigh to the town, whither they were going; and He made as though He would go farther.” (Luke 24:28.) But they begged Him not to leave them, saying: “‘Stay with us, because it is towards evening and the day is now far spent.’ And He went in with them.” (Verse 29.)

And whilst they were at supper, He took bread and blessed it and broke it and gave them Holy Communion. Then their eyes were opened and they knew they had been talking with Jesus all the time, and whilst they held Him in their hearts He disappeared from their sight.

Thus they spent their days in talking about Jesus. Sunday came again and the Apostles were together once more and Thomas was with them. “Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said: ‘Peace be to you.’

“Then He saith to Thomas: ‘Put in thy finger hither and see My hands; and bring hither thy hand and put it into My side; and be not faithless but believing.’”

“Thomas answered, and said to Him: ‘My Lord and My God!’”

“Jesus saith to him: ‘Because thou hast seen Me, Thomas, thou hast believed: Blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed.’” (John 20:26-29.)

After this, seven of the Apostles were one day at the Sea of Tiberias. Peter said to the others: “‘I go a fishing.’ They say to him: ‘We also come with thee.’ And they went forth and entered into the ship: and that night they caught nothing.

“But when morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.”

“Jesus then said to them: ‘Children, have you any meat?’ They answered Him: ‘No.’”

“He saith to them: ‘Cast the net on the right side of the ship and you shall find.’ They cast therefore; and now they were not able to draw it, for the multitude of fishes.” (Ch. 21:3-6.)

Seeing this, John knew that it was Jesus that was standing on the shore, and he said to Peter: “It is the Lord!” (Verse 7.)

Then the disciples dragged in the net filled with fishes.

“As soon therefore as they came to land, they saw hot coals lying and a fish lying thereon, and bread.”

“Jesus saith to them: ‘Bring hither of the fishes which you have caught.’”

“Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty three. And although there were so many, the net was not broken.”

“Jesus saith to them: ‘Come and dine.’ And none of them who were at meat durst ask Him: ‘Who art Thou?’ knowing that it was the Lord.”

“And Jesus cometh and taketh bread and giveth them and fish in like manner.” (Verses 9-13.)

Many, many other things did Jesus with His Apostles until, after being with them for forty days, He led them out of Jerusalem to the top of a hill. Here He spoke to them for the last time. He had said the night before His death that He would have to leave them. This had made them very sad, but He told them that He was going back to His Father in Heaven and that He would there get ready their places and that after they had worked and suffered for a few more years, they would join Him, never again to be separated from Him. And He told them that when He got to Heaven, He would send them the Holy Ghost to comfort them and guide them and that He would not leave them orphans but would come to them in Holy Communion under the form of bread and wine.

And now, blessing them for the last time, Jesus began to rise slowly into the air. Oh, how they longed to hold Him and keep Him with them! They strained their eyes watching Him rise higher and higher until a cloud hid Him from their sight. Even then they did not turn away, for their hearts had gone with Him beyond this world.

They might have stood thus for hours had not an angel come from Heaven to tell them to go back to Jerusalem and stay there until the Holy Ghost had come. So they went once more to the room of the Last Supper, and there with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the other holy women, they spent the days in prayer.