Christ has arisen! Christ has ascended! While Jesus has removed his visible presence from us, he has not removed his effective presence from us. He, together with all of his gifts—for he can never be separated either from his Word or its effects—is fully present in the message of the gospel. He effectively and eternally prays for us in heaven, and then in the Word gives us himself and the gifts he has won for us, i.e., he prays for us and gives us what he prays for. Through his Word he preserves us in faith until he takes us out of the world to himself in heaven. He sends us out into the world to give his saving gifts to all those he has chosen to gather to himself by his Word.
Because He Lives...We Have the Power to Serve (Easter 7)