God "has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church." This quote from today's second reading at Mass (for those who observe Ascension Thursday on Ascension Thursday), is one of the most encouraging passages of Scripture. It is sad that so many people fail to pay attention to it. If we look at what it says and truly grasp it, we will be amazed and end up loving our Lord all the more for what we have been taught.
First, St. Paul tells us that everything is already under Christ's feet. I know that many books and even clergy will talk like nothing is currently under Jesus' feet, and that He is just sitting up in Heaven watching us passively. That is not what St. Paul said. Second, we are also told that Jesus is already in charge of everything (as though the previous statement was not enough to get the point across).
Finally, we are told that this was done for us. You read that right. It is easy to listen to the modern errors and think that everything is about us; the world's self-centered perspective always takes one away from glorifying God. The statement that God did this "for us" is not that same worldly error. This is not a selfish statement, it is a revelation of the humble attitude Christ had in coming to the earth to take care of us, and it shows the love of our Lord clearly.
This last point also says one thing more. It makes clear to us the relationship between Christ's own secure place, and our secure place. It says that Jesus, with all authority in Heaven and Earth, will succeed in His tasks. The consequence of that should be obvious, because everything that Christ does is victorious, that means that the Church, who is protected in what she does, will also be victorious. Only if Christ fails will the Church fail.