Pritam Dangwar csc –
Readings: Acts 1: 1-11; Eph 4:1-13; Mk 16: 15-20
Today, the Holy Mother Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. The liturgy invites us to embrace our role as zealous missionaries, spreading the gospel to all corners of the world.
In the first reading, we are summoned to proclaim Christ’s message globally, empowered by the Holy Spirit. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples, guiding them to journey to Jerusalem, where they would receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus assures them of the descent of the Holy Spirit, through whom they will be strengthened to proclaim the gospel to the world and serve as his witnesses.
In the second reading, St. Paul urges believers to live lives marked by simplicity, humility, gentleness, patience, and love. This passage emphasizes the unity we share in Christ through the Holy Spirit: one spirit, one baptism, one faith, and one hope.
The gospel reading recounts Jesus’ call to his disciples to venture into the world and proclaim the gospel. He assures that those who believe in him will be saved, while those who do not will face condemnation. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus grants his followers authority over demons, the ability to speak diverse languages, the power to withstand evil, and a constant companionship of the Holy Spirit. Through these readings, Jesus invites us to believe in him and to live out the gospel in our daily lives.