Catholic Diocese Of Joliet

Bishop Conlon talks about the Ascension of Jesus and links it to the First Letter of St. John, the third chapter, in which St. John writes: "No one who sins has seen Him or known Him." Bishop Conlon refers to a homily by Pope Leo the Great, who said it was easier for the Apostles to deal with the reality of Jesus after the Ascension than before the Ascension. Bishop Conlon makes the point that St. John is saying we have to grow in our relationship with Christ, while also growing into a deeper spiritual relationship with Him. And that St. John had reached a point of spiritual maturity that allowed him to deal with his sin without losing hope; in his small sins he recognized he could contemplate Christ, but not in a way he would be embarrassed because he was in a deeper relationship with Him.