Dear Friend,
The Gospel this Sunday is on the Ascension of our Lord (Matthew 28:16-20). The Lord spent 40 days with His disciples before His Ascension. According to Acts 1: 3, the Lord spoke of the kingdom of God during this period. In this Gospel, the disciples came to where Jesus had told them to go, but some doubted. So Jesus told them that "all power in heaven and on earth has been given" to Him.
He commanded them to:
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"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations..."
In the beginning, Jesus called His disciples to "come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19) It was now the time for them to make, in turn, disciples in all nations.
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"... baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, ..."
Jesus authorized His disciples to baptize the people into His universal Church, a movement to bring all nations to the kingdom of God.
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"... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. ..."
The approach is the same as they have experienced with Jesus -- teaching them in words and in deed -- to become authentic witnesses of Jesus.
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"... And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. ..."
And Jesus remained as the Leader, the Good Shepherd of the Flock, until the end of age. Jesus did this by giving the disciples the Holy Spirit from the Father -- showing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in Trinitarian unity.
The disciples must have recalled that it is the Holy Spirit that will make them remember all that Jesus had taught them (John 14:26).
Meditation ~
It is the Holy Spirit that will teach me and make me remember all that Jesus wants me to become.
What is the Holy Spirit telling me now?
What do I remember now?
Contemplation ~
Imagine yourself on that mountain with Jesus. You have some doubts why you are there with Him. But as you look at Him, all your doubts vanish and you listen to Him tell you: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations."
Let His Spirit remain in you as you try to follow Him.
Joe & Charito
THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA'S
ONLINE RESOURCE FOR FAMILY MINISTRIES
www.simbahayan.org
servants@simbahayan.org
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