We have just celebrated the feast of Jesus' Ascension. After accomplishing his mission, Jesus has returned to his Father. His departure must have created a feeling of uneasiness in his disciples, but his union with his Father would bring his everlasting presence through the Holy Spirit as he promised, "I will not leave you orphans."

Jesus reminds us that we will have to face troubles and trials in this world. We cannot assume that we are relieved of all the troubles since we are saved by Jesus. We are in the world but not of the world. Jesus clearly showed how he conquered the world by doing the will of God. He endured the suffering, pain and troubles of this world but the world could not overwhelm him. So a Christian vision of life and the world has to be different. We are called to encounter life courageously as children of God because Jesus has gone ahead of us. Our life in the world is a life of hope. In times of darkness we can always see the light of dawn breaking forth in Jesus Christ. And we can be assured that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, is with us.