Tasked to Spread the Good News

05-15-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi, V.C.

The pain of separation from our loved ones is one of the most excruciating experiences we can have in life. It is not always easy to say “goodbye” to our loved ones when they travel or at their fi nal moment. Most people have the opportunity to say goodbye or give last instructions before they part from their loved ones. Naturally, the last instruction from a dying person is never taken lightly. This was the case of the Apostles as we hear in the fi rst reading and Gospel today. Their hearts were troubled to see Jesus depart from them. Jesus prepared His apostles well in anticipation of the challenges that were ahead of them. Jesus’ ascension was both an end and a beginning for his disciples. While it was the end of Jesus’ physical presence with them, it also marked the beginning of Jesus’ presence with them in a new way. Jesus promised to send them the Holy Spirit who would lead, guide, and remain with them until the end of time.

Before His departure, Jesus entrusted His mission to His Apostles and the early Church by sending them to go forth into the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The task of spreading the Good News is entrusted to all Christians throughout the ages. The fi rst step in fulfi lling this task is our willingness to cooperate with the WILL of God by allowing the Holy Spirit to use us as God’s instrument of peace. Everyone is entrusted with the task of spreading the Good News in proportion to our vocation in life. We fulfi ll this task when we are faithful to our vocation in life, when we bring our children for baptism, or help as sponsors for the sacraments, or serve in diff erent ministries in the Church. The Ascension of the Lord marks 40 days of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Next Sunday, we will celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost which will also mark the end of Eastertide this year. Thank you and remain blessed, Fr. James

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