Reflection for Sunday May 17, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord; Mark 16:15-20

Gospel: Mark 16:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

A soldier 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 so that they’ll grow-up to become responsible and God loving individuals.

The wife seriously followed the command of his husband. She taught their children the basic tenets of the faith, she introduced Jesus to them and she educated them about discipline good manners and values. After five years he came back. His children were all grown-up and he was so happy because they were all wonderfully brought-up by his wife.  

Before Jesus ascended onto heaven, He gave His disciples this marching order: “Proclaim the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) All the disciples lived to the hilt this command of Jesus. In fact majority of them were martyred for the sake of advancing the gospel of Jesus. 

The words of Jesus are like endless stream of water it flows with the passing of time and it speaks to us now so that we can respond to it. Have we shared and lived the gospel yet? Majority of us have not shared and lived it yet.

We therefore should share it because Jesus commands us to do so. We become a blessing for others when we share and live Jesus. We become more fruitful and useful followers of Jesus when we obey Him and when we help Him advance His teachings. And we allow Jesus to bless us more when we follow His marching orders. – Marino J. Dasmarinas