The Ascension of the
Lord Our Hope for A Better Life
Dear Sisters
and Brothers in Christ,
As we
celebrate the Lord’s Ascension today, we find the strong foundation for our
hope for a better life amid many difficulties and failures.
The Book of
Genesis tells us the truth that the failure of man in observing God’s
commandment has caused four evil consequences: one, separation from God;
second, separation from neighbor; third, separation from creation; and fourth,
separation from the capacity of doing good in each and one human person.
Because of
sin, man no longer has confidence and comfort to approach the Lord God. On the contrary, he has tried either to
escape from God or to rebel against Him.
Because of
sin, man no longer has compassion, tolerance and forgiveness but keeps pointing
an accusing finger to his neighbor.
Because of
sin, man no longer loves and cares for nature but exploits and destroys it
beyond restoration.
Because of
sin, man no longer has peace in his mind and heart but unrest, fear and
uncertainties. Though still having
intention to do good, man feels unable to start any step upward. On the contrary, man has repeatedly done
serious mistakes.
Of this
frightening experience Saint Paul wrote:
What
I do, I do not understand. For I do not
do what I want but I do what I hate. Now
if I do what I do not want, I concur that the law is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin
that dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.
The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the
evil I do not want. Now if I do not do
what I want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.[1]
History of
humanity has been a report of man’s endless failures in doing good and
countless bloody and deadly conflicts, fights and killings. The forces of evil almost have the upper hand
over the good which has become fewer and fewer than ever in our today’s
society.
Christ came
down from heaven in order to lift humanity up to their dignity as God’s image
and restore their right to eternal life.
By the power
of His suffering, death and resurrection, Christ our Lord has subdued sin and
death and freed us from the evil consequences of sin.
Not only did
Christ tell us not to be afraid in the struggle for doing good for He already
defeated the evil, He also kept His promise to bring us up to Him after he was
elevated to the Holy Cross, the throne of His victory and glory.
Looking to
Christ going up to heaven and listening to the angel’s announcement that He
will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, we are encouraged to
renew our commitment to serving the Good News of God’s merciful love and to
fighting tirelessly against the forces of evil in order to pave the way for the
final victory of Christ our Lord and Savior over all forms of evil.
Fr. Francis Nguyen, O.P.
