To Be a People of the Ascended Jesus

Mark 16:19-20 (NLT): To be a People of the Ascended Jesus

When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with [his disciples], he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

This week marks the celebration of Jesus’ ascension into heaven and to the Father’s right hand. Often readers take this literally, thinking that Jesus vanished into a cloud and took his seat on a majestic throne somewhere far off in the cosmos. And in this debate, the faithful lose the true meaning of the passage. What, then, does Jesus’ ascension mean for us?

Jesus’ ascension marks the time when it becomes our turn to be his agents of love, healing, mercy, peace, and unity in the world. Up until his ascension, Jesus taught and exemplified everything about his way, truth, and life. After Jesus is taken up, Mark writes, “. . . [T]he disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them” (20).

We are Christ’s modern-day disciples. And our commission has not changed in over 2000 years. Jesus continues his work of love, healing, and reconciliation through each of us. When we open our eyes, there are many small moments throughout our day when we are called to be agents of God’s love. All we need to do is look, listen, and pray that we act in those moments where our love -- the love Jesus channels through us -- is needed.

Scripture is clear about Jesus’ commission for each of us to act in his love. In his Living Space commentary, Frank Doyle, S.J., moreover, suggests four aspects of this commission:

1. As Christians, we are called to evangelize, to communicate the life-giving message of the Good News. This is not only the responsibility of the ordained. It is the call of all the faithful in Christ.

2. As Christians, we are all called to heal. This may mean listening to others’ complaints and pains. It may mean praying together for God’s grace. Depending on our faith tradition, it may mean confessing our sins to a priest, pastor, or faithful friend and praying for God’s forgiveness.

3. As Christians, we are called to be people of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s power gives people “strength in times of weakness, hope in times of fear or despair, a power that, above all, gives meaning to life in all situations.”

4. As Christians, we are called to be a people of unity. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus continues to work with and through his people. Jesus, therefore, is to be found in every person: “'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'” (Matthew 25:40).

Where in our day does God give us the opportunity to heal, unify, be people of the Spirit, and evangelize? Let us pray for the grace to be a channel of Christ’s peace to all people.

Heavenly Father, we pray to be people of unity, the Holy Spirit, healing, and evangelization in this world. Strengthen us, dear God, in this commission, so that each of us can be the face, heart, and hands of Jesus Christ to others. We pray in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.

Have a blessed week!

Stan