#LIFTED
The Ascension: Jesus’ Ultimate Send‑Off
Who here has a relative working abroad? If yes, then you already get the vibe of today’s gospel. Because honestly, the Ascension isn’t about Jesus showing off levitation skills. Nope — this isn’t a magic trick special.
Think balikbayan style. When someone’s vacation ends, we don’t just wave from the window. We throw a despidida, eat like there’s no tomorrow, swap last‑minute reminders, and if possible, escort them all the way to the airport. That’s exactly what happened with Jesus — His disciples gave Him a proper send‑off. Except, surprise! Instead of boarding a PAL flight, He went full Star Trek: “Beam me up, Scotty!” A Filipino commercial treatment of this scene would def include the line:
“Hanggang sa muling pagkikita…” (Followed by Gary V. serenading, “babalik… at babalik ka rin….”
But let’s not mistake this for a cheesy fantasy advert. Ascension Sunday isn’t just about remembering a cool miracle. It’s about the emotional rollercoaster of saying goodbye to someone who literally changed your life. Imagine your closest friend leaving after 33 years of living in your neighborhood — sharing meals, stories, and even miracles. That’s what the disciples felt.
And if you’ve ever had a balikbayan relative, you know the drill:
- Schedule wrecked — you file leaves-of-absence just to maximize bonding time.
- Diet destroyed — imported chocolates don’t count as calories, right?
- Wardrobe upgraded — suddenly your cabinet of exclusive ukay‑ukay blacks are competing with designer earth tones.
- IQ challenged — you level up your English to “declamation nose-bleed mode” so your cousin from the States doesn’t outshine you.
In the same way, Jesus’ time on earth disrupted everything — our calendars, our food, our values, even our understanding of life. Two thousand years later, He’s still shaking things up, still redeeming the hopeless, still lifting lives. But here’s the detail we often miss when we read this:
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“When He had said this, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight.”
Notice that? Lifted up. He didn’t shoot up to the skies like Superman. He didn’t self‑propel like Iron Man. He was lifted — raised by the Father’s glory. That’s the point missed. The Ascension isn’t about Jesus flexing His powers; it’s about God lifting Him, and in turn, lifting us.
So forget the Apotheosis of Hercules (Google it, yo!) . No human hustle can get us there. We rise, we soar, we ascend — only when we are #LIFTED. And just as the Father lifted the Son, we too are lifted, finding fulfillment and meaning to our lives, only when chill and let Him take over.
Reflection Question:
Are you a “weightlifter”?
- When did you last help carry someone’s burden?
- When did you lift up a friend’s spirit?
- When did you make someone feel they truly matter — a little taste of heaven on earth?
Who is the Holy Spirit nudging you to lift up today?
