Thursday, May 21, 2020 - Ascension - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 28, 16-20 - Go! Make disciples of all nations, says the Lord. I am with you every day until the end of the world.

Jesus called his disciples to Galilee, again from the same city, and after his resurrection he sent them out into the world on a mission to proclaim the Gospel. The mission is to teach the nations; to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; and to keep his commandments of love and communion, which the Church still lives.

"All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth". Already on earth, preaching the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus showed many times that He had full power over the world: He calmed the storm, walked on water, cast out demons, healed the sick... all this to say that this Kingdom of Heaven that He preaches is already at work with Him and among men.

At present, it is to the Church that Jesus has entrusted the mission of proclaiming the Good News. And this Church is none other than all of us who have received baptism: priests, men and women religious as well as lay people are obliged to proclaim the Gospel. And as He then assured the disciples, we are not alone in this mission: "I am with you," said Jesus, "every day until the end of the world". It is through baptism that we have become missionaries of the kingdom of God, it is through baptism that God has made us his children, co-heirs with Christ.

The ascension of the Lord is for us a guarantee that revives faith and hope. Our salvation is only accomplished in its fullness with Christ in heaven. Therefore, let us concern ourselves with what is above, where Christ is, according to the teaching of Saint Paul. Our reason for being on earth is to prepare ourselves for eternal life. It is a continual effort against everything that can separate us from God.