Reflection for June 1, 2025

The Ascension of the Lord (C)

Acts 1:1-11 | Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 | Ephesians 1:17-23 | Luke 24:46-53

​Today marks the 40th day since Easter, and we’re getting closer to the high point of the Easter story and God’s plan to save us. So, what does Jesus’ Ascension mean for us? First, it helps us see things in light of our mission as Christians. Second, it encourages us to pray for wisdom and deeper understanding. And lastly, it reminds us that we have a mission—to continue God’s work here on earth.

​Back in the 1920s, while the famous priest-engineer Fr. Roque Ruaño, O.P. was overseeing the construction of the iconic UST Main Building in Manila, a curious journalist decided to talk to some of the workers. He picked three and asked them the same question: “What are you doing?” The first one said, “I’m cutting stone for ten centavos a day.” The second replied, “I’m working nine hours a day on this job.” But the third one smiled and said, “I’m helping Fr. Ruaño build the very first earthquake-resistant building in Asia.”

In our first reading, Jesus ascends to heaven, but not before giving His followers a clear mission: “You will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth.” It’s a powerful reminder that being a Christian isn’t just about believing—it’s about living out that belief with purpose. The apostles were probably confused, maybe even overwhelmed, but Jesus gave them clarity: Stay faithful, wait for the Holy Spirit, and go share what you’ve seen and heard. Like them, we’re called to look beyond ourselves and recognize the bigger picture. Our faith journey isn’t random—it’s part of God’s plan. Knowing that gives us direction and drive. So don’t just stand there looking at the sky. Like the apostles, let’s move forward with confidence, trust the Spirit, and live out our calling right where we are—at home, at work, at school. You have a mission. Own it.

A little boy came into the kitchen and proudly told his mom he was six feet tall. When she asked how he figured that out, he said he measured himself using his shoe—and that he was six shoes tall. Smiling kindly, she explained, “Sweetheart, your shoe isn’t actually a foot long.” But he just grinned and said, “Well, Mom, it has to be—it’s got my foot inside it!”

Let’s face it—earthly wisdom isn’t always reliable. In fact, it often misses the mark. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul prays that God would give them the Spirit of wisdom and insight so they could know Him more deeply. He asks that the “eyes of their hearts” be opened to see three key things: the hope God has called us to, the amazing inheritance we share as His people, and the incredible power He’s given us. Paul’s point is this: it’s not that we’re missing these gifts—they’ve been ours all along. The problem is, we don’t always see them. That’s why real wisdom comes from truly knowing God, not just knowing about Him. So let’s keep praying—not just for knowledge, but for deeper understanding. Because the more we know who God is and what He’s done for us, the more clearly we’ll see who we are and what we’re called to do.

The Last Supper is a very famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci. It’s really big—15 feet tall and 29 feet wide! Leonardo painted it on a wall inside a church in Milan a long, long time ago. When King Louis XII of France took over Milan, he wanted to take the painting home. But since it was painted right on the wall, he couldn’t. So, he asked Leonardo to paint the same picture on big pieces of cloth that he could bring it back to France. Leonardo started painting Jesus and Saint John with great care. But then, he suddenly stopped. He called one of his best students, Andrea Solario, and asked him to finish the painting. Andrea said he was scared he couldn’t do it as well as Leonardo. But Leonardo gave him a challenge: “Won’t what I started inspire you to do your very best and finish it?”
When Jesus ascended, He became our source of strength and encouragement. Over 2,000 years ago on this day, He handed over the responsibility of God’s Kingdom to His followers. Isn’t His life a big motivation for us to keep going and finish what He started? Ascension Sunday reminds us that each of us is part of Christ’s body—we’re His arms, legs, eyes, and ears. Even though Jesus isn’t here anymore to heal, reach out to those left out, or feed the hungry, He calls us to step up and be His hands and heart in the world today. Adapting the words of St. Teresa of Avila, let us pour out our hearts in prayer for the grace to be God’s living presence here on earth:

Jesus, now risen and seated in glory,
You have no body here but mine.
No hands to reach out, no feet to move—only mine.
It is through my eyes that You see the suffering and the beauty of this world.
It is with my feet that You walk toward those in need, the lost, the broken.
It is by my hands that You bring healing, comfort, and hope to the hurting.
These hands--
These feet--
These eyes--
I offer them all to You.
I am Your body here and now.
You live through me.
There is no other body for You on earth but mine.
Come, Lord Jesus, use me fully.
Amen.

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