Part of You Is Already in Heaven (The Ascension Changes Everything)

Ascension Sunday — What does it mean that Jesus ascended into heaven in a human body? More than you might think. In this week's Sunday Gospel reflection, Chris shares a deeply personal story about a miscarriage 17 years ago — and the surprising consolation that came with it: the realization that a part of his flesh was already on the other side, already with the Lord. That's not just his story. Because of the Ascension of our Lord, it's your story too. Jesus didn't just ascend as God. He ascended as fully God and fully man — which means our humanity, our full humanity, is now inserted into the very life of the Trinity. Not absorbed. Not dissolved. But there — a human being in the midst of heavenly glory. And here's what that means for you: wherever you are today — in grief, in longing, in a midlife crisis wondering why nothing ever fully satisfies — part of you has already made it. The head of the Body of Christ is already in glory, and where the head is, the body will follow. Watch this reflection and let the Ascension do what it was meant to do: change how you see absolutely everything. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Chris says the Ascension means "a part of our humanity is already in glory." How does understanding that Jesus ascended as fully human — not just divine — change the way you think about your own destiny? 2. Chris shares that the miscarriage, as painful as it was, gave him a consolation that made death "less scary." Have you ever experienced a moment of grief or loss that unexpectedly deepened your hope in heaven? What did that feel like? 3. Chris talks about the deep longing that no amount of success, adventure, or achievement can satisfy — and how this longing often leads to a "midlife crisis." Where do you feel that longing most in your own life? How does the Ascension speak to it? 4. The Church is the Body of Christ — and where the head goes, the body follows. What difference would it make in your daily life if you woke up each morning truly believing you are being pulled toward glory right now? 5. At the end of the video, Chris meets a woman who simply started a young adult group (now 30 people) and another who launched a women's Bible study with 110 attendees — just by doing it. Is there something in your parish or community that needs to be done, where maybe God is calling you to be the one to do it? ----- Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ----- Help support us as we seek to bring our transformative CORE Confirmation program to this next generation: https://reallifecatholic.com/confirmation/ Chapters (00:00:00) - The Ascension of Our Lord Into Heaven