What were Christ’s last words on earth before the Ascension?
Wait for “The promise of the Father… you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth.”
Just as Jesus said to the Apostles and first disciples, have faith in Christ’s promises and teachings. If we have a relationship with and love for Jesus we are prepared for our mission to teach others about God through our words and actions.
Cardinal Robert Prevost now Pope Leo XIV emphasized the Church’s mission – our mission:
“The mission of the Church has been the same for 2000 years, when Jesus Christ said: ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…’ We have to announce the good news of the Kingdom of God at the same time that we understand what the Church is in its universal reality.”
The Apostle Luke wrote our Gospel for today. Christ said, “It is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead… and repentance for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations… And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power form on high.”
The National Eucharistic Revival reminded us of our clarion call – bring others to Christ. Let it start with our own families and our friends.
Saint Augustine inspires us with this quote from his sermon on the Ascension (Col 3:1-4):
“Today our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven; let our hearts ascend with him. Listen to the words of the Apostle: If you have risen with Christ, set your hearts on the things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God; SEEK THE THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE, NOT THE THINGS THAT ARE ON EARTH. For just as he remained with us even after his ascension, so we too are already in heaven with him, even though what is promised us has not yet been fulfilled in our bodies.”“THE CHURCH MAY INDEED EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTIES, THE GOSPEL MAY SUFFER SETBACKS, BUT BECAUSE JESUS IS AT THE RIGHT-HAND OF THE FATHER THE CHURCH WILL NEVER KNOW DEFEAT. Christ’s victory is ours.” – Pope St. John Paul II
