Acts 1:1-11; Ps 47; Eph 4:1-13; Mk 16:15-20
Preach to all Creation!
Dear friends, today is the feast of the ascension of our Lord. This feast is marked on the fortieth day after the resurrection which falls on the Thursday before the seventh Sunday of Easter. In some countries, this feast is celebrated on Thursday itself. However, given the significance of the feast, many Episcopal Conferences moved the celebration to the following Sunday so that it could be celebrated by all the faithful. Today Jesus is bidding farewell to his disciples but only temporarily because he promised to return. As he left them, he gave his disciples the mission to go out to the whole world and preach the good news to all creation. However, he first instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until he could send them a helper – the Holy Spirit.
Jesus sends his disciples to go and preach the Gospel to all creatures. This reminds us of Genesis 1:28 where God gave man and woman dominion over all creatures. Having created them in his image and likeness, God entrusted the whole creation to human beings. After the fall, man and woman began to destroy the creation. This is done by lies, delusion, violence, injustice, inequality, irresponsibility, selfishness, greed, politics of hatred, and many other evil forces that have taken us captive. The missionary mandate given to the baptized is to bring the Good News of redemption to all creation by words and deeds. Our lives must express the tenets of the kingdom of God. What do the trees, animals, mountains, and other human beings feel when they encounter me? Do they feel peaceful or threatened by my presence?
Jesus reveals to the disciples that if they acted in his NAME, they would perform the very signs that he performed. They would be able to cast out demons, speak new languages, hold dangerous serpents without harm, survive poisoning, and heal the sick by laying their hands upon them. He was giving them immunity to all dangers they would face in the cause of preaching the Gospel. This is very important because the world is vehemently opposed to the Good News. After all, it opens the eyes of those who receive it. This means the end of business for those who profited through deceiving others.
For disciples to be effective in the mission of preaching the Gospel, Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Spirit. As Christians, when we are baptized, we receive the Holy Spirit which enables us to perform the things that Jesus performed. St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians explains how this works: some are called to be apostles, other prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the sake of edification of the Body of Christ which we are all part. The modus operandi here is communion, each one doing their best with their gift.
The negative competition we see today among the Churches is a strategy by the evil one to counter the spirit of communion. The ministry of the kingdom has been highjacked by greed and deception. The promise of quick prosperity without having to work hard is very appealing, especially to the young generation. The quick-fix-miracles for every problem in the world is a very quick-growing business in the world today. The business strategy is to mesmerize the customers so that they want more and more. To make the product even more attractive, all kinds of tricks including stage-manage “miracles” are employed.
For people who do not want to follow the long and tedious process of attaining a “good life” through hard work, miracles are the best shortcut. However, the surest path to true prosperity is the one given by God since creation and renewed in Christ: “till the land and subdue it” (Gen 1:28). Are you one of those seeking instant prosperity?
Dear friends, God has given us wisdom to help us make the best out of the beautiful world he created for us. Let us not destroy it to gain quick riches which do not last. Quick fixes have a very short shelf-life. Investigate for yourself and see how long the miracles that are performed on the streets, at the prophet’s house, and in make-shift worship centers last. Do not be deceived. Will you?
Have a blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD.
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 