Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them.
As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.
They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
~ Luke 24:50-53
Mountains and heights are always awesome to look at. They incite wonder in the beholder. Often, we are led to think of grander and better things just looking up a mountain. We think of our goals and ambitions as the heights. We are inspired to strive for things we are capable of, even in the face of formidable challenges.
Today is the Feast of the Ascension. Christ was taken up into the heavens, into the heights. It must have been an awesome and exhilarating sight for the apostles to behold. It must have filled them with great joy and inspired them to finally go out and proclaim the Lord. It was a game-changing moment that would finally be consummated a week later during Pentecost.
Tomorrow, the Filipino nation will vote for their next president. This has to be the most contentious and the most divisive election exercise in the history of the country. Just as the apostles saw Christ ascending into the heavens, may this election be the occasion for our people to rise up to greater heights of achievements where there will be more inclusions rather than exclusions; where there will be more love and sharing rather than greed and selfishness; where people will think not only of their own good but more and more also of the common good.