Embrace the Mission

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord into heaven.  We remember Christ being raised up by His own powers as He completed the work of our redemption. 

But may I propose that it is, in a sense, the “feast of evangelization” – of the mission ad gentes.

In today’s Gospel we read:

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." (Mk 16: 15-18)

And the disciples went out and did exactly what Christ commissioned them to do. It was their mission.  It is our mission – the mission of all who are baptized.

Dare to take up the mission that is ours in Christ.  Trust that the same signs that accompanied the early evangelizers will accompany us.  So many do not know friendship with Christ and need our courageous and joy-filled witness as a starting point, through grace, for a journey with and ultimately to Him.

Anything less than our willing participation in this mission falls short of our baptismal call.

Embrace it.  No matter the cost.

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” 

By Michael Lavigne