Let’s take a moment to enter into the Gospel and readings on this Ascension Sunday – We see the scene painted in the words of Acts and of our Gospel …. Jesus ascends in a cloud into the sky. And the eleven are standing, looking up in wonder and amazement. Then Angels appear – messengers of God. And their message?
What are you doing? Why are you standing there looking at the sky?” “Go.” The world will not be converted staring nostalgically at the skies. The message, the “Good News” will not be spread in the clouds. Go. There is work to be done.
In Matthew’s gospel, before Jesus ascends, he tells them, very simply, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” “Go.” The world is waiting. Act on what I have taught you. So they left the mountain, went into the city, and prepared for the phenomenal mission that was about to start – the spreading of the gospel to every corner of the world
You see, while we tend to focus on the Ascension, there were actually two miracles that day. The Ascension was one. And it is usually the one that we tend to focus on. I guess that is because this is called Ascension Sunday.
But there was a second miracle that day. What was it? The second is that Jesus’ followers changed from being disciples to being apostles – from being students of God to being messengers for God. They were given a mission. God’s Mission, God’s dream for them. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
It was a dream, a mission that no doubt seemed impossible. Yet, Each one of them had a mission. Each one of them had no idea where it would lead. Each one of them played their part. And now, 2000 years later, the eleven has become 1.4 Billion.
God has a dream, a mission for you too. Do you believe that? Because it is true – God has created you, nurtured you, formed you to be a special part of God’s great dream for humanity. Like the Apostles, You too have a mission, You too have no idea where it will lead. And You too are called to play your part. Jesus last words – “Go – make disciples of all nations.” are His words to you too.
The world will not be converted staring at the skies. The Good News will not be spread in the clouds. It will happen where you are, in the streets, in public squares and private homes. At work, at home, on your commute. In your day to day living. In your love for your family, your caring for those in need, in welcoming the stranger, and in striving for justice in our world. But most of all, it will happen when we love one another, and show that love in tangible actions.
So, as the angels said – don’t sit around and wait — do something !! If you have a sense of God’s dream for you, God’s mission for you, then take time today, take time this week, to reflect on how you can more completely live out that dream, live out that mission. And if you aren’t aware of God’s Dream for you, God’s mission for you, then take time today to ask God to reveal that dream, that mission, to you. Take time to discover, to discern God’s mission, God’s dream for you. Trust that God will be with you …
And then – like the apostles,
rather than stand staring at the sky, wondering about the mysteries of life and of God, just Go
Live out that mission in your actions, and make that dream a reality.