A student was about to finish his secondary education and someone asked him some questions.
“At the end of school what do you intend to do?” “I will sit for the Matsec Certificate.” *
“And after the Matsec Certifcate?” “I will attend the sixth form.”
“And after the sixth form?” “I will start university to graduate and get a degree.”
“And after graduation?” “Then I will get a job and make big money.”
“And then?” “Then I will get married.”
“And after you get married?” “I will raise a family.”
“And after raising a family?” “Then I will retire.”
“And what would you do after retiring?” “I will take a rest.”
“And after taking your rest?” “Then I do not know!”
“Will you die?” “Oh yes, I will die too.”
In our life we are so busy that we tend to forget all about what life is all about. We tend to forget that our life is a preparation to meet God in heaven.
The Ascension of the Lord reminds us that our life is a journey. We are pilgrims on a journey, and just as Jesus’ life on earth was temporary, and He ascended into heaven where He is seated at the right hand of God the Father, so also our life is temporary. It will, one day, come to an end and then, in the next life, we will meet our God.
The Ascension of the Lord reminds us that, notwithstanding our busyness, we must not neglect what life is all about. We must not be like that student who had an answer for everything, but never thought of dying and what would happen afterwards.
In his Letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul writes this beautiful prayer: “May the God of Christ Jesus our Lord, the Father of Glory... enlighten your inner vision, that uou may appreciate the things we hope for, since we are called by God. May you know how great is the inheritance, the glory, God sets apart for his saints; may you understand with what extraordinary power he acts in favour of us who believe...” (Eph 1: 17-23)
The Ascension of the Lord and this prayer remind us that God has great plans for us, plans that go beyond our dreams and imagination.
Looking at yourself, you can see yourself in three ways: what you think of yourself; what others think of you; what God thinks of you, with the most important being the latter. What does God think of you? In the same Letter to the Ephesians, we understand that once we are baptized, God looks at us as his sons and daughters: “May God of Christ Jesus our Lord, the Father of Glory... enlighten your inner vision, that you may appreciate the things we hope for, since we are called by God.” (Eph 1:17-18)
Perhaps we yearn for a perfect house, a poshy car, in fact we yearn for the best of things. But the best things await us in the next life. God has planned the very best for us.
Those who love God are promised, that in the next life, they will receive the glory. Whatever riches we might have, are worth nothing compared to the glory that God has prepared for us. Nothing could be compared to the riches that God has prepared for us in the next life.
God wants the best for us. He offers this to us through his Son Jesus Christ and God the Father, put all enemies under his feet when Christ rose from the dead. Our spiritual enemies were conquered so that we could enjoy the new life that God offers us as his children, the new life Jesus Christ has obtained for us through his death and resurrection.
How lucky are we, that once we were baptized, we were adopted as God’s children! How beautiful is our calling! How awesome are the riches of heaven that God has planned for us! How worth it, it is to strive after these riches! When St. Paul, in his First Letter to the Corinthians, writes about these riches that God has planned for us, he writes: “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it dawned on the mind what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1Cor 2:9)
Do you want to be one of them?
___________
- According to the Maltese Education System.
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