Reflections on The Ascension of the Lord (Br Aloysius Tan)

As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring into the sky as he went, when suddenly two men in white were standing beside them, and they said, 'Why are you Galileans standing here looking into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way as you have seen him go to heaven.' (Acts 1: 9-11)

Tong Tong (no this real name) was a Myanmar refugee seeking temporary settlement in Malaysia. He was identified as HIV positive when he went for a medical check up and eventually, he was sent to a shelter runs by the Church for HIV patients. I met him a few years back when I was assigned to do pastoral work there. He was an educated man who had contracted the dreaded disease through the sharing of needles. He spoke of the dark period that he went through, the thoughts of ending his life that he wrestled with, and his many other struggles. Now, after much time has passed, he comes to terms with his condition. In fact, he wrote to UNHCR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, stating that he was willing to be experimented upon with new medication for HIV and that he would donate his body for research upon his death. What he wanted to do was to help medical research find new ways of helping HIV positive patients.

The liturgy of the Solemnity of Ascension which we celebrate today is generally a dedicated day to celebrate the completion of the work of our salvation, the pledge of our glorification with Christ, and His entry into heaven with our human nature glorified. Jesus, who was lifted up, showed us his full divinity and in fact his real identity as the Son of God who had taken on human form to incarnate among us to fulfil God’s plan for salvation.

Jesus went through his passion, death and resurrection before been lifted up to heaven. As we celebrate this solemnity, perhaps we too are invited to a profound communion with Jesus through events that are present in our own lives. Many a time, we were sure to have experienced the “passion and death” in our struggles, challenges and trials. We might also have “risen” from it and was “lifted up” to see HOPE. Tong Tong, who had experienced his own “passion and death” in his physical struggles, was able to rise from “death” to see hope. He wanted to share his physical body for research purposes so that his act might bring HOPE to others.

Today, as I meditate on the meaning of the Ascension to us, the followers of Christ, I recall many, many faithful disciples of Christ who, in their daily lives, dedicate what they have in order to “lift up” the life of others... to the point of even offering up their own lives.

Think of amazing people like...

Archbishop Oscar Remero,


St. Maximilian Kolbe,

St. Damien of Molokai,

...just to name few.... I pray that we too who celebrate this solemnity with great joy and piety will be able to transform our lives to give LIFE and HOPE to others by “lifting up” each other through our love, kindness and charity.

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Stay tuned for the next post by Br David Arulanatham on 15th May 2010.