God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast (Ps 46/6) The feast of the Ascension invites us to consider our true and eternal destiny. Life, for sure can be so busy and frentic that we seldom give much thought to things that really matter. Cardinal John Henry Newman said, “Love of heaven is the only way to heaven.” Today feast encourages us to be heavenly minded. Our dignity, as children of God is very much to do with us being raised up body and soul. The theological meaning of the feast is expressed in the secong reading of today. God has glorified Jesus, raising him above all earthly powers and making him head of the church and Lord of creation. Indeed our faith teaches that on the Last Day we will be raised up body and soul and live with God forever. Our bodies are integral and essential to who we are as human beings and God's plan involves the redemption of our bodies.

Happy Feast to you all, May the glorified Christ be with you in every place you are.

Fr. Oliver Antao