The Ascension of Jesus

Before the death of our loved one what is of utter most importance? What he/she says just before departure from the earth and that we will remember for life. In today’s gospel Jesus before his ascension to heaven commissions the Apostles to “𝙂𝙤 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙊𝙊𝘿 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣”, which later became their mission.

The mission Jesus gave to his Apostles must have sounded totally impossible, beyond their comprehension. The Apostles, who had fled away when Jesus needed them the most, are now entrusted with the mission of Jesus himself. Perhaps even more astounding is the fact that they did carry out this mission, and we, together with so many others, are the beneficiaries of their faith and trust in Jesus. We must sincerely thank God for the Apostles, and for the gift of our faith. We thank God especially for St Mark, the first to write a gospel, and whose feast we celebrate today. But is it enough to just say a thank you for such a precious gift of our faith.

Then it was the Apostles who were on mission today it us to whom it has been passed on to. Each of us is called into the ministry of Jesus in some way. We are called to be ‘other Christ’s, to be people who wish to make known and spread the love of God and His care for his people in the world. We may never know how much we have done this; it is sufficient that we do what we can. God has some work to do that can be done only through each and every one of us. In our personal time with the Lord, let’s ask that we use our gifts and talents as best we can in God’s service and thus be the 𝙂𝙊𝙊𝘿 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 by what we are, by what we say, and by what we do. This is Jesus’ mission for you and me!