THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

What Is It For Us To Do?

After the resurrection Jesus manifested himself to his friends for forty days, as recounted in the gospels, and finally returned to the Father, to be glorified with him. We celebrate this today, Ascension Sunday. We also remind ourselves of it every time we pray the Apostles creed or the Nicene creed:  “He is seated at the right hand of God the Father.” But before ascending, Jesus sent his disciples to go throughout the world and preach everywhere the good news of salvation.

And although they no longer saw him, “he acted in them,” because he transmitted the power to perform miracles “to those who believed”: driving out demons in his name, speaking new languages, healing the sick, and facing the deadly nature of sin itself without being harmed.

The apostles took the message of Jesus to various places in the world, and that same message reached us through the missionaries (Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians, Jesuits, Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, and more). Thanks to them we received faith in Jesus Christ and the grace of his salvation.

Today it is our turn to preach the gospel, so that there may be many who believe, are baptized and saved. What is it for us to do? “Go into the whole world,” as Christ tells us in today’s Gospel, “and proclaim the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

–Martha Castaneda

Send Us Forth are reflections written by St. Matthew parishioners and friends.