The days between the resurrection and ascension of our lord

On Wednesday the Sixth Week of Easter our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the first letter of the apostle John (2:18-29) entitled "Concerning the antichrist". Our treasure, which follows, is from a sermon by Saint Leo the Great, pope. Saint Leo the Great's primary contribution to the teachings of the Catholic Church was his clear articulation of the two natures of Christ—fully divine and fully human—united in one person. In his famous Tome of Leo, he explained that Jesus Christ possesses both natures without confusion or division, a teaching that was affirmed by the bishops at the Council of Chalcedon and became a cornerstone of Catholic Christology. Leo also strengthened the understanding of the authority of the Bishop of Rome as successor of Saint Peter the Apostle, helping shape the doctrine of the papacy while safeguarding the Church's teaching about who Christ truly is.   Today's treasure is from Pope Leo I's sermon "The Days Between the Resurrection and Ascension of Our Lord,"  wherein he teaches that the forty days after Christ's Resurrection were meant to strengthen the faith of the disciples and prepare the Church for its mission. During this time, Jesus appeared repeatedly to His followers to prove that He had truly risen in the body and to deepen their understanding of the Scriptures and the mystery of salvation. The main takeaway is that Christ's Ascension was not His departure from humanity, but the exaltation of human nature into God's presence, giving believers hope that they too are called to share in His heavenly life. The main teaching from today's first reading (John 2:18–29), is that Christians must remain faithful to the true teaching about Jesus Christ and not be led astray by false teachers. Saint John explains that the "antichrist" spirit is found in those who deny that Jesus is the Christ and who separate themselves from the truth handed on by the apostles. He encourages believers to remain rooted in the faith they received, guided by the Holy Spirit, so that they may continue living in communion with Christ and confidently await His return.