Saturday, May 31, 2014

1Reflection for June 1, Sunday; Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Matthew 28:16-20

Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
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Reflection:
A military man was about to be assigned in a faraway place so he said to his wife: Properly take care of the children. Teach them about our faith and teach them  values so that they’ll grow-up to become responsible and God fearing individuals. The wife seriously followed the command of his husband. She taught their children the basic tenets of the faith and she educated them about good manners and values. After fifteen years he came back, his children were all grown-up and he was so happy for the reason that they were all responsibly brought-up by her wife.  

Jesus in our gospel episode for this Sunday is about to leave HIS disciples for heaven but before doing so. He gave them this marching order: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).” The disciples lived to the hilt this command of Jesus. In fact many of them were martyred for the sake of advancing the gospel of Jesus. 

To whom does these powerful words of Jesus speaks to now? It speaks to us with the same fervor during this very moment.  Who is our target? Is it the population at large? The target is not the population at large, the target is the members of our family, let us creatively share Jesus’ teachings with them. And let us encourage them to attend Holy Mass.

The words of Jesus are like endless stream of pure water it flows with the passing of time and it speaks to us now. What will be our response?