Readings: Acts
1:1-11; Eph. 1:17-23; Mk. 16:15-20
Go and Proclaim
the Gospel to Every Creature
Today, we celebrate the solemnity of
our Lord’s Ascension. After His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to His Apostles
for forty days to assure them that He had truly risen. On the day of the
Ascension, Jesus promised them the Holy Spirit, blessed them, and was taken up
to heaven.
Article 6 of the Creed states, “He
ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.” This
is our faith: “Christ’s body was glorified at the moment of His
Resurrection, as evidenced by the new and supernatural properties it enjoys.
However, during the forty days He ate and drank with His disciples and taught
them about the kingdom, His glory remained veiled under the appearance of
ordinary humanity. Jesus’ final appearance concludes with the irreversible
entry of His humanity into divine glory, symbolized by the cloud and by heaven,
where He is seated from that time forward at God’s right hand.” (CCC. 654)
Now that Christ has ascended to the
Father, it is up to the apostles to carry out His mission of witnessing to His
Resurrection. The disciples were warned not to stand idle but to take action. “They
had their eyes fixed on the sky as He went away when two men dressed in white
suddenly stood beside them and said, ‘Galileans, why are you standing there
looking up at the sky?’” (Acts 1:10-11). Before His ascension, Jesus
commanded His disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel
to every creature.” (Mark 16:15). We hear the same mandate when He
says: “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 them
to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always,
until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20). Christ has passed the
baton to us, and the message must be preached. St. Paul urged Timothy: “I
solemnly urge you to preach the message, insist upon proclaiming it (whether
the time is right or not), to convince, rebuke, and encourage, as you teach
with patience.” (2 Timothy 4:2).
We may not be
great preachers or skilled singers, but we are called to be good Christians—to show
the love we have for Christ in our relationship with others. We must practice
kindness, hospitality, compassion, and forgiveness. Our mission encourages us
to show mercy and refrain from uncharitable acts. Instead of spreading gossip
and rumors, we must refrain from sharing unkind words about one another. Gossip
can damage lives without taking a life; it tears apart homes, breaks hearts,
and ruins lives. It can be found among both the pious and the ungodly. It grows
stronger with time and spreads venom where greed is unknown. It brings
confusion and suspicion where there was once trust, often leaving innocent
lives in ruins.
Let us dedicate our time to
constructive criticism that builds our brothers and sisters up instead of
tearing them down. The first reading warns us not to be idle daydreamers
waiting for rumors or tales to share. Instead, let us spread love and encourage
others by sharing what God has done for us and inviting them to experience His
goodness. Though Christ has physically left us, He is very much present with us
spiritually. He has promised to be with us until the end of time. He said
goodbye to His disciples to allow them to grow into mature witnesses. His
Spirit, working in and through them, guided them in love and discipleship. May
this same Spirit dwell in us and show us the way to true discipleship. Amen!
Rev. Augustine
Etemma Inwang, MSP
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