One of the things that I learned in Catechism class growing up is that “Jesus opened the Gates of Heaven”.

I remembered that concept the second time I visited Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate

When we were stationed in Germany in the early Seventies, Bob had a temporary assignment to Berlin during Easter school break. From Frankfurt, we took the “Duty Train”, transport through the barbed wire, heavily militarized, “iron curtain” fenced portion of East Germany that Communists claimed as their own to walled-off West Berlin. The train existed to help Americans stationed in West Berlin to periodically get out of isolation into the “real world”, but it was also a defiant sign to insist that America had a right to be there.

We decided to visit East Berlin, hoping to see some unique museums there. Because Bob was on active duty, he walked through Checkpoint Charlie in his Army uniform, but the three girls and I had to take a special tour bus for military families. Near the Brandenburg Gate, itself behind the famous Wall, Checkpoint Charlie was a narrow gap in the wall with very limited access to East Berlin. It was guarded on one side by American soldiers and on the other side by solemn-faced, menacing  soldiers with very large guns. We all agree that that was the scariest experience of our lives.

Fast-forward twenty years. Our son Mark, who had been born in Frankfurt, a bi-centennial baby, our own Deutsch Mark, was now an exchange student in Hamburg for his high school senior year. Again, during an Easter break, we brought his two younger siblings to visit him and tour parts of Germany. In Berlin, we brought our “second batch” of three children through the Brandenburg Gate, now on foot. The battle was won, wall was down, and the gate was definitely open.  And I remembered Catechism class. Thank You, Jesus.

A couple years later our daughter Leah was in a basketball battle with the rival high school. 49 to 49 with less than a minute to play. Anna Martinez hurled a ball from the center line and was rewarded with a “whoosh”. I’ve often compared the pandemonium-rejoicing out on the floor as fans swarmed,  hooraying about the victory – compared to the rejoicing that must have happened in Heaven as Jesus arrived from His victory on earth.

A recent movie revived this comparison as the underdogs – amazed and excited – rejoiced at their hoped-for victory.

“He ascended into Heaven…”        (Creed)