The Holydays of Obligation of the Epiphany and the Ascension have returned to their traditional places on the twelfth day of Christmas (except if that is a Saturday or Monday – which it was this year!) and Thursday after the 6th Sunday of Easter.

Here is Malcolm Guite’s sonnet on the Ascension. He captures the double meaning very well – this feast tells us that we are now part of heaven’s story, while heaven shows us a human face. The words are well worth our reflection.

We saw his light break through the cloud of glory
 Whilst we were rooted still in time and place
As earth became a part of Heaven’s story
And heaven opened to his human face.

We saw him go and yet we were not parted 
He took us with him to the heart of things
The heart that broke for all the broken-hearted 
Is whole and Heaven-centred now, and sings

Sings in the strength that rises out of weakness, 
Sings through the clouds that veil him from our sight, 
Whilst we ourselves become his clouds of witness 
And sing the waning darkness into light

His light in us, and ours in him concealed,
 Which all creation waits to see revealed.