Spring Greetings, Sir Knights;
The ascension of Jesus Christ is one of the most significant events recorded in the New Testament and is an important date in our Templar calendar. In the Christian tradition, Ascension Day marks the 40th day of Easter, and commemorates Jesus Christ’s ascension into heaven following his death and resurrection, as recorded in the passages found in Acts 1:8-11: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Fr. William Graham writes “Jesus was lifted up in His ascension and our hearts follow and are drawn to Him in the throne He occupies, at the right hand of His Father, in the heaven. He opened for us, and wherein He is always living to make intercession for us. As the fruits of our thoughts on the twin mystery of the Resurrection and the Ascension we may glean a twofold lesson suggested in the words of St. Paul.” In Colossians 3:1-4, we read “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
Jesus’ ascension should point our entire being towards Heaven and guide our every thought and deed. We should have Heaven as our goal and seek it, using whatever means is most fruitful.
Above all, it is a shift in mindset, no longer focusing on our own selfish desires, but looking towards Heaven and conducting ourselves as citizens of that blessed place. Once we do that, we will experience a profound change in our lives that will affect everything we say and do.
As Christian Masons, we are continually reminded that we are called to fulfill this mission. As Knights Templar, we must seriously endeavor to conduct ourselves as inhabitants of that heavenly kingdom by ensuring that our ritual is more than just words. We are commissioned to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and bind up the wounds of the afflicted through acts of charity and pure beneficence. Throughout history, Templars have understood that we are on a daily quest to affirm our Christian faith while respecting the world around us and that as we get to know ourselves better, we may improve ourselves. As long as we remain faithful to our vows of Christian Knighthood and live, work and worship as such, we will be the example of good in our society and for a world which desperately needs it.
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, May 10th at 10am for our Ascension Day Service to be held at the First Baptist Church of Westwood under the direction of our Grand Prelate.
In my travels throughout our two-state jurisdiction, I continue to be impressed with the excellent work being performed for our candidates and I continue to enjoy the camaraderie that I have experienced everywhere I go. May God bless our great Order.
In His Knightly Service,
S. K. Eugene Blake Nichols.
IN HOC SIGNO VINCES
