This Sunday, we are celebrating the Ascension of Jesus. This complete the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ, and it is in the ascension, that Jesus brings the humanity to Heaven. God met mankind in the Incarnation of Christ, and then brings us with him in his Ascension into Heaven. During the Ascension, Christ entrusts the Apostles and promises to give them the Holy Spirit.
Do you know of any famous last word? People are there most authentic when they are about to leave this earth. That is why many people make sure that their last words are their most important ones. Some people will utter the names of their loved ones with their last breath like T.S. Eliot, and others like Bob Marley will share a core part of their life philosophy.:
“I will hear in Heaven” - Ludwig von Beethoven (was deaf)
“Pardon me, I didn’t do it on purpose” - Marie Antoinette (To her executioner at her unjust execution)
“I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have” - Leonardo de Vinci
“Money can’t buy life” - Bob Marley
“Valerie” - T.S. Eliot (his wife)
“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. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28:18-20). When Jesus ascended into heaven, with his last words he thought about us. And we know these were the most important things he wanted to say to us because they were the last things he physically got to say to us. We call these last words, "The Great Commission".
The Great Commission has 4 commands:
Go
Make Disciples of all nations
Baptize
Teach them to observe all that he has commanded
One of my favorite Gospel passages is the Great Commission. This Sunday, we will be celebrating Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven, and it is here that we will hear Jesus’ final words.
Christ reminds us of the task that we are to carry out, which is so deeply united to the Sacrament of Confirmation. This Great Commission is a sharing in the divine mission, which Jesus modeled for us within his earthly life. In Confirmation, we are sent, like the Apostles during Pentecost, and Christ, who call us friends, lets us share in his mission. We get to be Christ’s hands and feet to the world. We get to share in the prophetic voice of speaking God’s hopeful message of freedom and truth to everyone we encounter. We get to be Christ’s arms, ready to welcome all into God’s family, the Church.
Last words are carried with high value. Christ gave these words with high responsibility. Yet he also reminds us that he is going to remain with us, as he is to send an Advocate, the Holy Spirit to remain with us and empower us so that we can carry out his mission.
