The Forty Days of Ascension

  From Easter, the Power released to earth is redoubled again in preparation for Ascension Day, which commemorates Christ's Ascension to our Father in Heaven. Pondering what ascension means pays the greatest dividends of the whole year in illumination. Only illumination from the Source dissolves the mists of matter, the illusions that lie between earth and the different realms of heaven, which veil the mysteries of the universe, lest too much Power destroys you.–Edna Lister, Twelfth Night Chart.
  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.–Acts 1:1-5
  A study of the forty days of Ascension must include the events recorded in the Gospels of Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20. Of these texts, those of Luke and John are most illuminating in details.

Edna Lister on the Forty Days to Jesus' Ascension

Am I blaming others or myself? (If I am, I must place myself high above earth for purification.)
Am I willing to pay the debts of my family, friends, of all others?
Am I ready to be ever responsible for all about me?
Am I asking credits for my service, for doing what is a duty?
Am I truly free of self?
Do I live by soul?
–Edna Lister, Ascension Questionnaire, March 28, 1947

Am I ready to assume full responsibility for my family and friends?
Am I ready to lift them constantly and let Light move forth through me to pay their debts?
Am I ready to assume all blame for all disobedience about me?
Am I always ready to lift silently the one disobeying?
Am I seeking praise?
Am I desiring credit for service, inner or outer?
Am I ready to serve in silence?
Am I always obedient to all laws?
Is my faith unconquerable, my courage unshakable and unalterable?
–Edna Lister, Ascension Questionnaire, April 4, 1947

What gains has Lent brought me?
What outstanding lessons have I learned?
What is my full desire for ascension?
What do I most need to let go of during the 40 Days of Ascension?
What do I most need to remember to use during the 40 Days of Ascension?
(To release Light and to praise.)
Am I ready for greater responsibility?
Am I ready to use greater silence to gain more of heavenly matters?

Your keynote for the first ten days following Easter is "I surrender." Remember, God calls His best beloved to stand in trying places because there are trying places where someone must stand, and the careless and indifferent are not great enough for such service. Every initiation opens a new basement in consciousness, and the Power seems to decline. Climb to the heart of Light so that you may dress your creations in garments of Light. The more garments of Light you can add to your creations, the faster they enter manifestation. This is the keynote to the forty Days of Ascension.–Edna Lister, Easter to Ascension Day, April 7, 1947

The way is opened for you. You have made your own present hardships for yourself in the past. You are foolish enough to make more now by many and diverse ways of thinking, feeling and imagining. Yet, you can win easily by becoming all diligence, all honor of God, by continued complete surrender of self. Make a complete surrender each day, yet each further day that completeness is higher, greater, nobler. Therefore, continue to make each day's surrender ever greater. So shall you ascend. Read this often until Ascension Day, and pray. This, then, is your choice: How long shall I take to completely release my share of the Power to lift the world? Shall I take the whole year, playing, resting and pampering the little self, or shall I accomplish this by Ascension Day?–Edna Lister, Easter to Ascension Day, April 7, 1947

As you prepare for Ascension Day, go up, as Solomon did, to the high place and offer a thousand burnt offerings on the altar there. Day after day, lift your failings, small and great. Keep all your vows, your desire ardent, and your desire burning. Lift all false gods into the Light as you build in the kingdom of the soul. Build, as did Jesus did, aiming to be a fitting and enduring temple to the living God.–Edna Lister, From Wisdom to Folly, April 27, 1947

As Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. wrote:

Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul,
As the swift seasons roll!
Leave thy low-vaulted past!
Let each new temple, nobler than the last,
Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast,
Till thou at length art free,
Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea!
–Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., The Chambered Nautilus

Lent comes forty days after the New Year. Easter is forty days later. Ascension Day is forty days after that. You make vows to become responsible for others, to absorb the darkness they have created, leaving to God to set the debt they must pay.
  The law says that nothing may stop the other fellow from seeking. Loose him and let him go. Place a pillar of fire about him and declare that nothing can harm him. Pray for his desire to flame in him. He will look up in consciousness only through his desire. You can lay anyone's life line in the Master's hands, and let Light care for him. When you worry about him, you tangle your lines of responsibility, wasting your time.–Edna Lister, An Encompassing Faith, May 4, 1947

By the noble effort of the love I bear my God, by the perfection of mine own release of the Power of love, by the faithfulness of my heart and my mind to the love of God, by the compassion of the Mother Love through me upon my duties, my service and my lifting, by my fervor and my joy, so shall I be aid in the fulfillment of all our so-great desires. I am now vowed and rededicate and reconsecrate my life anew to be used by my Father. So shall I look up for the strength to fulfill my vows. Amen.–Edna Lister, New Ascension Vow, March 21, 1948

From January 12 to Ash Wednesday is a period of repentance, during which you take soul inventory. Lent is a period of sacrifice for remission of sins. From Easter to Ascension Day, you release Power through surrender of self, to sanctify your soul for the descent of the Holy Spirit. We call this period the Way of Initiation, the Via Christa, the Way of Christ.–Edna Lister, Your Life Practice, May 23, 1954

So many people hibernate from Christmas to Ash Wednesday, which is pointless. Hibernation by a conscious being is descension in consciousness. From Ash Wednesday to Ascension Day is a climbing period. Each of these periods lasts roughly forty days, and following them, nature regenerates with buds and foliage. Holy Week is a cleansing period, when our heavenly Father asks, How much pressure can you take before Easter? Then, in new and higher ways, from Easter to Ascension Day, the Power redoubles, and He asks you again how much pressure and tension you can take during this period. From Palm Sunday to Good Friday, Jesus recapitulated his entire life, and taught parables and law. Matthew, chapters 22, 23 and 24 contain all his warnings for us, which he condensed during Holy Week.–Edna Lister, Integrity: Your Great Anchor, April 22, 1962

From this hour through Ascension Day, release Power to heal in all ways. You, your loved ones and those you hold on your lines of Light and responsibility can have miracles. Someday the world will know these forty days of Ascension as days of miraculous healing. Roll away your stone once and for all, and the Power of God will touch your tongue when you speak. You cannot fail in your releasing of the Power, and those near you need it. The Council rewards all your past service with added soul substance, and on the inner as a crown of glory. Wings of glory shall be placed upon your head. Your integrity is your great anchor to the Source of the living God, a lifeline to the trinity of Mind, Power and Substance.–Edna Lister, Integrity: Your Great Anchor, April 22, 1962

Am I in love with God?
Am I offering praise 1,000 times an hour to God, who holds earth?
Am I ready to make a stand for the glory of God?
Where does the line of responsibility end? (There is no end, but you cannot take it on then spew it out.)
Do I love God more today than I did yesterday?
Am I closer to God now than I was last month?
–Edna Lister, Ascension Questionnaire, April 15, 1971.

Edna Lister’s Sermons on the Forty Days to Jesus' Ascension

Restoring Faith: Edna Lister, February 3, 1935

Jesus: The Great Physician: Edna Lister, March 26, 1938

Jesus: The Honeycomb: Edna Lister, May 2, 1943

The Three Loves: Edna Lister, January 21, 1945

The Glory of the Holy Spirit: Edna Lister. July 7, 1946

The Three Temptations: Edna Lister, July 31, 1949

I Ascend!: Edna Lister, April 8, 1956

Realization: Edna Lister, May 3, 1959

Identity: Your Hope of Glory Edna Lister, April 29, 1962

Understanding and Will: Edna Lister, May 28, 1967

After the Resurrection: Edna Lister, December 17, 1967

From Surrender of Self to Soul Ascension: Edna Lister, May 16, 1971

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The Forty Days to Jesus' Ascension in the New Testament

Matthew's Account: In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
  And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
  Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
  Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.–Matthew 28.

  Mark's Account: And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
  And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
  Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.–Mark 16.

  Luke's Account: Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
  And they remembered his words, and returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
  And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things?
  And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
  Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
  And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
  And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
  And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.–Luke 24.