Today we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord into heaven. St. Paul says to us in Ephesians 4: 9-13: "When it says, 'he ascended', what can it mean if not that he descended right down to the lower regions of the earth? The one who rose higher than all the heavens to fill all things is none other than the one who descended. And to some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. In this way we are all to come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God, until we become the perfect ...[person], fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself" (emphasis mine).
Jesus descends to our level, except for sin, and returns to heaven, as He is above all corruption. He takes our humanity with Him. He takes all of life with Him to be transfigured by Him, transformed by grace. He awaits for all of creation to "fully mature with the fullness" of Himself. He awaits for us to "come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of Jesus as the Son of God. Yes, He awaits for us to become the perfect person that He intends us to be. For that end, St. Paul, in Eph. 4: 1-4, exhorts us to "lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together."
In what ways am I heeding Paul's words? How selflessly do I live? How gentle and patient am I with others and myself? Do I, in fact, "preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds" me with others, with the Church, with my family or community members, with my coworkers, with persons of color, of other nationalities, other cultures, other religious; in short with my brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world? In what ways is it evident that I am growing "fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself?
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