WHAT implications can we gather from the consideration of Our Lord’s Ascension into heaven? Quite a number actually. One is that Christ, who is the pattern of our humanity, finally shows us that where he came from and where he is going now are also where our origin and final destination are.

Yes, we came from heaven, since all of us came from God and not just from our parents. And we are supposed to return there where our final home is. As the Letter to the Hebrews would put it: “We don’t have a permanent city here on earth, but we are looking for the city that we will have in the future.” (13,14)

Thus, Christ himself said, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may also be.” (Jn 14,3)

Our life here on earth is some kind of a pilgrimage toward our final destination. It can also be regarded as some kind of test God is giving us, to see if what he wants us to be—that is, to be his image and likeness, sharers of his life and nature—is also what we ourselves would want to be.

And the way to pass that test is precisely to follow Christ who clearly said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14,6-7)
Our Lord’s Ascension should actually inspire us to think about our human perfection when we finally would be fully identified with God. That is why it is good that from time to time we meditate on this ultimate goal that we are supposed to pursue in this life and train ourselves how we can relate everything in our life, with its ups and downs, to this goal.

For this, it would be good that we realize that the ideal condition of our life is when we will always have God in our mind and heart. We should convince ourselves that we are meant to be with him always, because without him we simply would open ourselves to our own weaknesses and woundedness, not to the mention, the many temptations around.

We truly need to live in God’s presence since in the first place our life is supposed to be a life with God. We are meant for it. We are actually equipped and enabled for it also. And obviously there is an objective basis for this.

God is everywhere. He is omnipresent. This is how one of the psalms describes this reality: “Whither shall I go from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” (139,7-10)

Christian theology explains this truth by teaching us that God is present everywhere, that is, in all things and in all persons, by the mere fact of their existence, since God is the giver and maintainer of the existence of everything and of everyone.

More than that, God’s presence is not merely passive but active. He is always intervening in the existence of all the creatures, ever applying his wisdom through the ceaseless providence that he exercises over all his creation whose nature he always respects, upholds and defends.

This is how we would be approaching our human perfection in heaven.

In the face of the seemingly exponentially rising Artificial Intelligence, what will happen to the traditional education delivery that we have been brought up with?

The job market landscape is actually evolving, if you happen to look into the virtual assistants and home-based jobs, we see incumbents having various diploma and degrees but are employed as simple data encoder, medical transcriber, law firm clerks and call center agents or Business Processing Outsourcing.

The value of traditional degrees and diplomas is evolving as industries increasingly prioritize skills over formal education credentials. While degrees will still hold significance, many employers are shifting towards skills-based hiring, focusing on practical competencies rather than academic qualifications.

This trend is particularly evident in fields like technology, healthcare, and business, where hands-on experience and specialized skills often outweigh the necessity of a four-year degree. Some companies, including those in the Philippines, are now valuing work experience and growth potential over academic achievements alone.

Several industries in the Philippines are shifting towards skills-based hiring, where practical competencies matter more than formal degrees. Here are some of the key sectors leading this trend:

• Technology & IT: Companies in software development, cybersecurity, and data analytics prioritize technical skills, certifications, and hands-on experience over traditional degrees.

• Business Process Outsourcing (BPO): The BPO industry values communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and adaptability rather than formal education.

• Creative & Digital Media: Graphic design, content creation, and digital marketing roles often favor portfolios and practical expertise over academic qualifications.

• Construction & Engineering: Skilled trades such as welding, plumbing, and electrical work rely on certifications and apprenticeships rather than degrees.

• Healthcare & Allied Services: While medical professions require degrees, roles like caregiving and medical transcription focus more on specialized training.

This shift reflects the growing recognition that real-world experience and technical skills are often more valuable than formal education.

On a personal take , I am certain that highly technical knowledge and rigorous fields requiring stored knowledge and judgment calls may propagate the degree but the sheer skill-based demands can somehow change peoples minds. They may go to Skills rather than Degrees!