Jesus ascended to show his scars to the Father

Church of St. John the Baptist, Quincy, Illinois

While the angels sang and the saints rejoiced, the God and Lord of angels and men ascended above the heaven of heavens (Psalm 67:34), and he soared on the wings of the wind (Psalm 17:11) with the marvelous agility of his power and sat at the right hand of the Father, having become so much superior to the angels as he inherited a more excellent name than they, and there he appeared before the face' of the most benign Father 'to intercede for us (Hebrews 1:4, 9:24). For it was fitting that we should have such a High Priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners and become higher than the heavens (Hebrews 7:26), so that, seated at the right hand of Majesty, he might show to the glorious face of his Father the scars of the wounds which he suffered for us.

Let every tongue give thanks to you,

Lord our Father,

for the unutterable gift

of your most abundant charity.

You have not spared the only Son of your heart,

but you have handed him over

to death

for all of us

that we might have so great and so faithful

an advocate

before your face in heaven.

- Saint Bonaventure, The Tree of Life, 37