Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father

Jesus Christ ascended into heaven so that he might be present on earth through his followers, present AND active. Just before ascending into heaven, he said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) Christ put a great deal of trust in his apostles, and in us! He depends on us to continue his work. The success or failure of Christ’s mission depends to a great extent on how well we fulfill our role of being Christ to the world. Before Jesus was crucified, he had his own mortal body through which he could speak, listen, touch, forgive, heal, comfort, pray, love, unite, and bless. Now, his body is immortal, glorified in heaven above all creation. We are the Body of Christ on earth. He is present though us, as well as through the Church and sacraments. Our lips speak Christ’s words of love and comfort. Through us he listens to the troubled and reaches out to the lonely. When we forgive, Christ forgives. When we heal, Christ heals. When we comfort the sorrowful, Christ eases their pain. Christ uses our generosity so that he may share God's blessings with the poor. He uses our prayers so that his prayer can be lifted up to the Father from every age and place. Through our love, Christ’s love takes human form. When we work for unity, we answer Christ’s prayer for unity, “that they may all be one” (John 17:21). When we bless, the blessing of Christ again finds human expression on this earth. We are members of the Body of Christ. Saint Paul writes, “So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us” (Romans 12:5-6). Parents raising their children, students attending class and participating in school activities, the elderly living in nursing homes, adults working at their jobs and professions, clergy and religious serving through their ministries...all are the Body of Christ. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. He is also on earth, working in us and through us. “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).

Jesus ascended into heaven so that he might be present and active on earth through his followers

A. True

B. False

Now Christ’s body is immortal, glorified in heaven, so he is not present here on earth.

A. True

B. False

All these statements are true except:

A. ?When we heal and forgive, Christ heals and forgives.

B. ?Through our love, Christ’s love takes human form.

C. ?We all have the same gifts to serve Christ.

D. ?Christ works in us and through us.

Christ works in us and through us.

A. True

B. False