Ascension of the Lord
5 June 2011
First reading Acts 1:1-11 3
In my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning until the day he gave his instructions to the apostles he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. He had shown himself alive to them after his Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days he had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God. When he had been at table with them, he had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised. ‘It is’ he had said ‘what you have heard me speak about: John baptised with water but you, not many days from now, will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’
Now having met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, has the time come? Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth.’
As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two men in white were standing near them and they said, ‘Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there.’
Psalm or canticle: Psalm 46:2-3,6-9
Second reading Ephesians 1:17-23
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. This you can tell from the strength of his power at work in Christ, when he used it to raise him from the dead and to make him sit at his right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named not only in this age but also in the age to come. He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation.
Gospel Matthew 28:16-20
The eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’
Reflection
By Benj Santiago
“Jesus Commissions His Disciples”…
The happiest moments during our family reunions are when we start to gather and our siblings arrive. The saddest part on the other hand, is when we bid our farewell. I suppose it is what was in the hearts of the disciples as Jesus prepares to ascend to heaven. And what eases the pain of the separation is the hope to meet again. In fact, not only did they felt sadness, some of them even doubted… “When they saw Him, they worshiped, but they doubted.” (Mt 28:17). And then, He reassured them by approaching them and commissioning them to make disciples of all nations and not just the Jews. Thus, I believe that we are also commissioned to proclaim the Good News to the world. We are in fact “commanded” if we consider ourselves disciples of Jesus. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching then to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Mt 28:19-20). And what makes it exciting to accomplish this, is His promise that He will be with us always, until the end of ages! What a wonderful assurance!
Heavenly Father, remove all our doubts, fears, and sadness. Make us Your effective and unwavering disciples following all what You have commanded us to do which is to bless the people whom we meet in our daily lives, and making them disciples as well to spread the good news to the whole world. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Go out and be a disciple to others!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Tell us what you feel...