Forty days have gone by of the most joyful season of Easter and on fiftieth day, i.e. Pentecost Day, we will celebrate the Solemnity of the coming of the Holy Spirit. Now that we have come to celebrate the ‘Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord’ , let us try to see what the Lord told us before he ascended to heaven. He said, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” How shall we do it?
St. Luke is very very amazing when after careful study he give us an orderly account of what the apostles and disciples did. The beginning of the Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 tells us first of all to, wait for “ the promise of the Father...” The promise of the Father is “Baptism with the Holy Spirit.” This means that we will receive the Holy Spirit, and then we can do anything and everything. This is the promise Jesus made when he said, “unless I go I will not be able to send you the Holy Spirit.”
St. Paul’s in his letter to the Ephesians 1:17-23 blesses us with these words, “May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.” This is a rich blessing and if we have it we can go out to proclaim and baptize. He further continues the blessing, “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe.”
Finally we come to the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 28:16-20, where the Lord gives His command before he was taken up to heaven. As we reflect on this command, let us remember that we have a promise, “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Let us also remember that there can not be more strengthening and encouraging words than these because the Lord and Master of life is with us always.
Let us take up the mission the Lord has given us and fulfill it with the Lord and His Spirit.
