Ascension Sunday

Solemnity of the Ascension of

Our Lord Jesus Christ

16 May 2021 

 

First Reading:  ACTS 1:1-11

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading:  EPH 1:17-23

Gospel:  MK 16:15-20

 

Reflection

By: Benj Santiago

 

"Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved..." "These signs will accompany those who believe: they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Today is the Ascension Sunday. The Second Glorious Mystery in the Holy Rosary. The commemoration of the lifting up of our Lord Jesus Christ, Body and Soul into heaven.

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus is giving His disciples instructions "habilin"  to spread the gospel of LOVE to all "creatures", and to "baptize" those who believe. Again with a promise for those who will drive out demons, speak new languages... and heal the sick.

The Lord is telling  us that believing in Him means not just in words and prayers but in ACTIONS. True believers are known to DO what He has done. We are being commissioned as true believers to proclaim the Gospel of love to everyone, and every creature.

The disciples heeded the command of Jesus to "go into the world" as evidenced by the fact that the word of God spread out to the entire globe. They had faced so much trials and difficulties but they persisted. In fact all of them had been martyred (except John) for proclaiming that Jesus is God!

The task is not yet completed. There are still a lot of non-believers. Thus, as believers, we in turn are called to continue to spread the good news through words and actions in our own family, in our workplace, our community, in our own country, and the whole world!

Can it be done? With technology that we have, it definitely is possible. Bro. Bo, The Feast, Magis Deo Community, Joel Osteen, Brian Houston are just a few of personalities and communities that use the internet space to spread the good news. The Catholic Church up to Pope Francis maximize the use of the internet to bring the good news out to the whole world. In my own small way, I also do my best to proclaim the Kingdom of God by posting His Word in my Facebook account.

But I believe it is just half of what the Lord commissioned us to do. I believe God wants us to move to action. We must spread LOVE in our actions. As Jesus said, there must be accompanying signs of our belief. And with the pandemic that remained unchecked, the call to "heal the sick" to you and I as believers is an urgent call. May you and I act in whatever way possible to help those who are sick and dying.

 

Prayer

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for our continuing good health of mind, body, and spirit in the midst of this pandemic. Continue to empower us with your Holy Spirit that we may all continue to proclaim and spread Your LOVE through our words and actions to all the people we can reach out to. In Jesus' Name, we pray. AMEN.