He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God...

HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD...

“To say, ‘I believe in Jesus Christ… who ascended into heaven’ is to say ‘I believe in the mystical dimension of life…’  [T]he entire world is sacramental.  Everything speaks of God.  Everything unveils God to us… In the end, out of the dregs of the worst the world has to offer, the Creed lifts our eyes and our souls to the vision that transcends the pedestrian.  The Creed brings us face to face with the mystical and reminds us to abide there all the while we walk the streets of the world.”

Practice:  Ignatian spirituality offers us “five surprising places we might find God” (an acknowledgement that the world is indeed sacramental), and thus spiritual growth.  Pick one per day and see if you can find God to the “vision that transcends the pedestrian” in that space:

1.  At Work.  
The relationships you have, the results you achieve, the quality and mindfulness with which you do your work can all be the stuff of holiness.

2.  In Difficult Relationships. 
It’s easy to love other people when everything’s going well. But when there are hurt feelings, mistrust, or clashing wills, relationships don’t feel very much as though they are of God. Yet it is at just those times, that we can witness the movement of God in our lives, leading us to healing, trust, and cooperation. These can be opportunities to let go of character defects and to exercise virtues.

3.  In Our Failings. 
When we hit our limits or even when we sin, we can turn to God for acceptance, mercy, and the strength to make amends and sin no more. In that turning to God and in our opening ourselves up to God’s grace and forgiveness, we become better people.

4.  In Loneliness
.  Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, O God. Rather than trying to fill the emptiness with mindless entertainment or indulging our cravings, sit still and find God in the emptiness. It takes patience and courage and humility, but you will hear the “still small voice” of God even in the midst of your emptiness responding to your loneliness and restlessness with the only love that fully satisfies.

5.  In Pleasure.  
Many people seem to think that if something’s fun, it must be at least partially wrong. Yet God gives us the world to live in and enjoy. Pleasure is a place to meet God, whether it be the pleasure of nature, of playing, of loving one another, of beauty, or of the occasional overwhelming conviction that we are loved by God.

Quotations from Benedictine sister Joan Chittister’s book In Search of Belief, which explores the Apostles’ Creed phrase by phrase, demonstrating how the Creed is not a static set of rules or statements, but a living document that speaks to the deepest meaning of our existence and serves as a life guide, calling all of us to engage more deeply in relationship with God and with each other.  Sr. Chittister’s thoughts challenge us to live the Creed more fully as Christians; her writing is thought-provoking and inspirational.

Text source

Photo credit