Sunday May 21, 2023

“When we share in Christ’s mission, we share in his power.”

Good News Reflection for:

The Ascension of the Lord
May 21, 2023

Today’s Prayer:

Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to remember that You are always with me and that in Your mercy You have chosen me. Even though I pass through trials in this life, my whole being will be eternally thankful. Amen.

Subscribe to Today’s Saint Quote & Prayer:
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Today’s Readings:

In many dioceses, the Feast of The Ascension of the Lord, which is really on Thursday of the 6th week of Easter, has been transferred to this Sunday so that more people can participate in this celebration.

Acts 1:1-11
Ps 47:2-3, 6-9
Ephesians 1:17-23
Matthew 28:16-20
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052123-Ascension.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-may-21-2023-ascension

Called to do more than follow Christ

In the Gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus states the Great Commission. He still repeats it today and at the end of every Mass when, through the priest, he sends us on our way. “Go,” he says. “Go and make disciples wherever I send you.”

A disciple is a student. Think of people you know who are mere followers of Christ, people who claim to believe in Jesus but who are not learning how to imitate Christ, adult Catholics who stopped their religious education a long time ago. Their faith is not enough to change the world, because they live more like the world than like holy representatives of Christ. Or they live more miserably, less joyfully than those who know how much Jesus cares about them. Or they are unpleasant to be around, because they have not developed enough humility to exude Christ.

You are called to disciple them! Jesus has commissioned you to do it. And it’s not impossible to do. Take apart the word “commission” to see that you are “with” (“co”) Jesus on his “mission”. He says, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” in the context of the Great Commission. This means that, when we share in Christ’s mission, we share in his power.

If we are more than mere followers and have been disciples learning how to be fully alive in the Holy Spirit of Christ, he will give us the words and the opportunities to teach others to observe and understand what he has commanded.

With Christ, we can change hearts by teaching the people around us what it means to be a follower of Christ who also learns from Christ. We teach first by our example, but unless this is backed up with explanations of why we follow Christ, those whom we hope to influence will make no new discoveries about God’s love, the benefits of God’s commandments, or the need for God’s merciful forgiveness.

“Behold!” he adds as an exclamation point on the Great Commission, “I am with you always. Together we will change the world, one disciple at a time.”

Questions for Personal Reflection:
Are you just a follower of Christ or are you also a student of his ways, his truths, and his commandments? What can you do to learn more?

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:
How does it feel to be a partner of Jesus in his mission of evangelization? How have others evangelized you? What did they do that inspired you to become more active in your Christian faith?

To reflect further on this, use our Faith Booster: “To be filled with joy, have faith in the Holy Spirit’s love” @ https://wordbytes.org/faith-booster-minis/have-faith-in-the-holy-spirits-love/

© 2023 by Terry A. Modica

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