I would like to begin this reflection on the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord with the letter to the Hebrews, “For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (Heb. 13:14-16). This letter to the Hebrews invites us to not loose our purpose and goal in life which is God and that He is the center of our lives and missions. And as pilgrims on this earth we are heading to the lasting city, heaven.

Today, as we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord, we look up at Jesus who ascended into the lasting city, heaven. Noted that Jesus not merely ascended but he ascended into heaven, took his seat at the right hand of God. This is the faith that we profess, “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.” Thus, heaven as Pope Benedict XVI puts it “does not indicate a place above the stars but something far more daring and sublime: it indicates Christ himself, the divine Person who welcomes humanity fully and forever, the One in whom God and man are inseparably united forever. Man's being in God, this is Heaven. In Christ ascended into Heaven, the human being has entered into intimacy with God in a new and unheard-of way; man henceforth finds room in God for ever.

Heaven then must be the center and the goal of our lives and mission. This is the truth that Jesus lived and proclaimed to the people. That we are living in the world but we are not belong to the world. With this truth we can come to realization that the ascension of Jesus was not a separation or a goodbye but rather a certainty that the Crucified-Risen One was alive and that in him God’s gates, the gates of eternal life, had been opened to humanity forever.”

The ascension of Jesus to heaven become the assurance and hope for us as we continue our journey. This hope enables us to live out the mission that Jesus has entrusted to us. The ascension of the Lord reminds us of this mission to go everywhere and proclaim the saving message of Christ's death and Resurrection under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Indeed, Jesus who ascended into heaven remains with us forever through the Holy Spirit and this is the reason for our joy as He told us: “I will send you the Holy Spirit.” May the Holy Spirit empower us to go into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature.