No one has ever ascended into heaven except the one who descended fro heaven

Today, as our Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Ascension we are invited to reflect on a passage from the letter of the apostle Paul to the Ephesians (4:1-24) entitled "He ascended to heaven and led captivity captive". Our treasure, which follows, is from a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop. Our Lord's ascension into heaven is essential to a complete understanding of the Christian faith because it reveals the full meaning of who Jesus is and what He accomplished. Forty days after His Resurrection, Jesus did not simply "leave"; He entered into heavenly glory with His risen human body and took His place at the right hand of the Father. This means that human nature itself has been brought into communion with God, giving Christians hope that they too are called to eternal life. For Catholics, the Ascension also explains why the Church exists and why the sacraments matter: Christ remains present and active through His Body, the Church, especially in the Eucharist. The Ascension marks the beginning of the Church's mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and prepares for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It teaches believers to live with both earthly responsibility and heavenly hope, seeking Christ not only in heaven but also in the poor, the suffering, and the life of the Church. Saint Augustine was born at Tagaste in Africa in 354. He was unsettled and restlessly searched for the truth until he was converted to the faith in Milan and baptized by Ambrose. Returning to his homeland, he embraced an ascetic life and subsequently was elected bishop of Hippo. For thirty-four years he guided his flock, instructing it with sermons and many writings. Saint Augustine is perhaps the most significant Christian thinker after St. Paul. He adapted Classical teaching and created a powerful theological system of lasting influence. He also shaped the practice of biblical exegesis and helped lay the foundation for much of medieval and modern Christian thought. The legacy of Saint Augustine of Hippo is immense, shaping both Catholic theology and Western thought as a whole. He is best known for his profound writings—especially Confessions and City of God—which explore the human heart's restless search for God, the reality of sin and grace, and the meaning of history. In short, his legacy is that of a master teacher who showed that the journey to God is both deeply personal and firmly grounded in truth. Saint Augustine is a preeminent Catholic Doctor of the Church. His most important teachings shape not only Western theology but the entire intellectual tradition of the Church. His thought deeply influenced later figures such as Saint Thomas Aquinas and remains foundational in Catholic doctrine. He died in 430. In today's "treasure" Saint Augustine's homily teaches that Jesus Christ alone has the power to ascend to heaven because he first came down from heaven as the Son of God. Augustine explains, however, that Christ does not ascend alone: all believers who are united to him through faith, baptism, and love become members of his Body and are drawn upward with him. The homily emphasizes the deep union between Christ and the Church—where the Head has gone, the members are called to follow. Augustine's central message is that the Ascension gives Christians hope, because in Christ human nature itself has been raised toward eternal life with God. The majestic chapters of Ephesians emphasize the unity in the church of Christ that has come about for both Jews and Gentiles within God's household, and indeed the "seven unities" of church, Spirit, hope; one Lord, faith, and baptism; and the one God. Yet the concern is not with the church for its own sake but rather as the means for mission in the world. The gifts Christ gives its members are to lead to growth and renewal. Ethical admonition is not lacking either; all aspects of human life and relationships are illumined by the light of Christ. In our first reading today to the Ephesians, Saint Paul teaches that Christ's Ascension is not His departure from humanity but His triumph and exaltation for the sake of the Church. By "ascending into heaven and leading captivity captive," Christ conquered sin, death, and the powers that enslaved humanity, freeing people to live a new life in Him. From His heavenly glory He pours out spiritual gifts upon the Church so that believers may grow in unity, maturity, and holiness. Paul urges Christians, therefore, to leave behind their old way of living—marked by selfishness, ignorance, and sin—and to be renewed in mind and heart, becoming a people who reflect the truth, love, and holiness of Christ in everyday life.