“Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. Jesus returns to the Father, but before ascending into heaven, He leaves His disciples with a mission: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Mt. 28:19).

The Ascension is not Jesus abandoning the world. It is Jesus entrusting the world to us.

And perhaps today, the Lord is asking us Filipinos a very important question: “We are known as the Christian nation of Asia. We are religious and prayerful people. But has our faith truly transformed our society?”

Because honestly speaking, many of our people still suffer from poverty, corruption, dishonesty, political division, fake news, greed, and abuse of power.

We fill churches during fiestas and Holy Week, but sometimes we struggle to practice honesty in daily life. Many know how to raise their hands in prayer, but some still use those same hands to exploit, steal, or spread hatred online.

That is painful to admit, but it is part of our reality.

In the First Reading, while Jesus was ascending, the disciples were still looking up to heaven. Then the angels asked them: “Why are you standing there looking at the sky?” (Acts 1:11)

In other words: “Do not just stand there. Go and continue Christ’s mission.”

Faith is not only about looking up to heaven. Faith must also transform the earth.

The Lord did not ask us merely to build beautiful churches. He also wants us to build a more honest, compassionate, and just society.

My dear brothers and sisters, one of the dangers of religion is this: we can become externally religious but internally unchanged.

We pray the Rosary but refuse to forgive. We attend Mass but tolerate corruption. We post Bible verses but spread fake news and hatred. We ask blessings from God but cheat people in business. We honor saints but dishonor truth and justice.

That is not the kind of Christianity Jesus wants.

The Gospel today reminds us that our mission is to make disciples, not just churchgoers, but true followers of Christ.

And a true follower of Christ lives differently: honest even when no one is watching, compassionate toward the poor, responsible in public service, truthful in speech, respectful even in political disagreements, humble in leadership, and courageous in defending what is right.

In the Second Reading, Saint Paul prays that “the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened.”

Because many people today are educated but morally blind. We have more technology but less wisdom. More online connections but less kindness. More political noise but less truth.

What our country needs today is not only economic progress or political victories. The Philippines needs moral conversion.

The renewal of our nation will not begin in Malacañang alone. It must also begin in homes, schools, offices, social media, businesses, churches, and within our own hearts.

The Feast of the Ascension reminds us that Jesus has no physical hands on earth now except ours. No physical voice except ours. No physical presence except His Church. We are now called to continue His mission.

And perhaps the most powerful way to evangelize today is not through words alone, but through integrity of life.

People are tired of beautiful speeches without honesty. Tired of leaders without conscience. Tired of religion without compassion. The world needs Christians whose lives truly reflect Christ.

Before Jesus ascended, He gave one final assurance: “I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20). That promise is very important for us Filipinos today. Because despite all our problems, God has not abandoned our country.

The Lord is still with us: in every honest worker, in every teacher shaping young minds, in every parent sacrificing for the family, in every public servant with integrity, in every young person choosing goodness over corruption, in every Filipino who still believes that truth, justice, and love are worth fighting for.

My dear brothers and sisters, the Ascension is not an invitation to escape the world. It is a mission to transform the world through the spirit of Christ. May our faith move beyond rituals and truly change the way we live. And may the Philippines become known not only as a nation that prays, but as a nation that truly lives the Gospel.”