To ascend to heaven, Catholics must be able to surrender everything, Central Seminary pastoral director Fr. Marcelino Saria, O.P. said during the Ascension Sunday Mass on May 21.
In his homily, Saria cautioned against potential obstacles from clinging to earthly possessions, which can impede the faithful from embarking on their journey to heaven.
“[Sa] sobrang daming hawak natin dito sa mundo, our attachments hinder us from slowly gradually ascending with Christ into the heavens,” Saria said.
He said finding contentment solely in material and nonmaterial attachments signifies a shallow understanding of the heavenly reward.
“And our whole life in this world is but a preparation for the next. Tinuturuan tayo na dahan-dahan i-give up, i-let go ‘yong mga bagay-bagay na hindi nakakatulong sa pagpunta natin sa langit,” he said.
Saria also encouraged Catholics to mirror the example of Jesus, who willingly sacrificed everything for the salvation of humanity.
“As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord, ipagdasal natin na like our Lord, we may learn to give up everything out of love for humanity — because only in that way can we ascend to the heavens…Anything that hinders us from growing ourselves closer to one another and to God, we give them all up,” he said.
Ascension Sunday commemorates Christ’s ascension into heaven 40 days after Easter. It signifies the completion of Jesus’ earthly ministry and his return to the divine realm. with reports from Angeli Ruth R. Acosta
