Word to the Wise
Sunday, May 12, 2024 - The Ascension of the Lord - A (note)
[Acts 1:1-11; Eph 1:17-23; Mark 16:15-20]"It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." [Acts] "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature!" [Mark]
One way of understanding the history of Christianity is to divide it into pre-Jesus, during Jesus, and post-Jesus. The feast of the Ascension of the Lord celebrates the end of the "during Jesus" period. The disciples (and we) are given their (and our) marching orders. The gospel scripture for today from the Gospel According to Mark puts it very succinctly! The mission of a disciple is to the whole world and to every creature! Jesus' return is part of the agenda but NOT its timing.
The frightened small band of disciples are not going to do this by themselves. The Holy Spirit will [and does] come to strengthen them [and us] to accomplish the mission that Jesus commits them [and us] to do.
Another way of viewing the history of Christianity is to see the time as the "time of the Father" [before Jesus], the "time of the Son" [during Jesus], and the "time of the Holy Spirit" [after Jesus], which gives a trinitarian aspect to the mission. We can be reminded of this each time we make the Sign of the Cross!!!
Jesus' earthly mission was accomplished with his return to the Father, but his mission continues in us with the strength of the Holy Spirit - a gift we will celebrate next Sunday on the feast of Pentecost! AMEN