THEOLOGICAL CLUE

As the church year developed, the ascension was celebrated as part of the Easter event, and not as a separate festival. Luke's account of the ascension provided the "40th day" location of the festival within the calendar of the church; it became known as the Quadragesima, matching, in that respect, the other Quadragesima, Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Ascension Day was also known as Holy Thursday, in some ancient calendars. (There is no evidence of a post-Easter sexagesima or septuagesima in the liturgical scheme of things.) The theological significance of the ascension is that it marks the completion of the resurrection of Jesus Christ; until he makes no more appearances, and until he leaves the earth, the resurrection is unfinished business; Jesus said, "I go to…