A Path Through . . .

( Ascension by Simon Marmion - found here ) “Christ stayed on earth, in a visible human form, for forty days after his resurrection. St Mark tells us he impressed upon the disciples that they must go out into the world and preach the good news, and then ‘the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven and enthroned at the right hand of God’. In this painting the apostles crane upwards, longing and yearning. St John, prominent as ever, seems utterly dismayed, while the others close their eyes in anguish and in reverence. Only Mary seems at peace. She knows that Jesus has merely gone away in a bodily sense: he is present spiritually and always will be. From now on, people will know Jesus … they will love him and understand his teaching, but without ever seeing him. Doubting Thomas — those may be his hands raised in a forlorn attempt to stay the departure — said he could only believe if he saw and touched the wounds. Jesus granted his request, but added: ‘You believe because you have seen me...