THE LORD HAS ASCENDED

"The Lord Has Ascended" by Rev. Fr. Okwy Tony Umeh is a triumphant, joyful piece written for the Feast of the Ascension. It captures the glory of Christ's return to the Father, marked by the vivid imagery of a "trumpet blast" and "shouts of joy." With its lively rhythm and bright exclamations of "Alleluia," it serves wonderfully as a festive Entrance or Recessional hymn during the closing weeks of the Easter season.

While the refrain focuses on the grand, cosmic event of Christ taking His seat at God's right hand, the verses bring the mystery down to its deeply human meaning. As the choir sings lines like "With Jesus humanity is raised above all the angelic worlds," they remind the congregation of the hope the Ascension carries. It is not simply about Christ departing, but about our own nature being lifted up, carrying the promise that "every tear be wiped away."

Musically, the piece builds an energetic momentum in the refrain, layering the voices to proclaim the good news before breaking into a unified shout of praise. It is the kind of piece that enlivens the choir loft and sends the people out with a renewed sense of purpose, perfectly setting the spiritual stage for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.