Matthew 28:16-20 NRSVue
16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
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Further reflection
What do I do to make the love of God present and real to those I meet?
Some of the disciples doubted. I may have doubts and fears too. Can I be open with the Lord about them?
Listen to Jesus telling you, "Remember, I am with you always."
Lord, you terrify me with this command: /Go and teach all nations./ You were talking to eleven men, without education, money or influence, in a despised province of the Roman Empire. But they obeyed you, because they knew you were with them. And today Christians are the largest body of believers on this planet. Today"s preaching is different. We are educated, sometimes too well. It is harder than ever to make our voice heard. Yet in /Sacred Space/ your word goes out potentially to all nations, and you are still with us.
A man went out on a starry night and shook his fist at the heavens yelling, "Oh, God, what a lousy, rotten world you’ve made. I could have done much better." Then a voice boomed from the clouds saying, "That’s why I put you there. Get busy." The Ascension is the time when Jesus puts us in charge of his mission and of his work, promising to be always with us. Prayer can be a time of asking and discovering where each of us can work in this world.