Daily Readings - Sun May 13 2018
Acts
1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
First Reading - Ephesians 1.17-23 or Ephesians 4.1-7, 11-13
Ephesians
17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Ephesians
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.4There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--5one Lord, one faith, one baptism;6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Mark
15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."19After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.20Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound mystery of Christ’s ascension and the mission that follows. In the first reading from Acts, we witness the moment when Jesus, after appearing to his disciples for forty days, is taken up into heaven. The disciples are left standing there, gazing upward, until two angels remind them that their attention should not remain fixed on the heavens but should instead focus on the task ahead: spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This moment marks the end of Jesus’ physical presence among them, but it is also the beginning of a new era—the era of the Holy Spirit, who would empower them to fulfill their mission.
The second reading from Ephesians deepens our understanding of this mission. Paul prays that the Ephesians may have the “eyes of their hearts” enlightened to know the hope to which they are called and the immense power that is theirs through Christ. This power is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at the right hand of the Father, far above all other powers and authorities. The reading reminds us that our hope is rooted in Christ’s triumph and that we are called to live in the light of this victory, even as we await his final return.
In the Gospel, Mark gives us Jesus’ final command to his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” This is the Great Commission, a call to share the good news of salvation with all people. The signs that accompany believers—such as healing, casting out demons, and speaking new languages—are not ends in themselves but means of confirming the truth of the Gospel. The reading ends with the assurance that the Lord Jesus, now seated at the right hand of God, continues to work through his disciples, empowering them to fulfill their mission.
These readings challenge us to live with our eyes fixed on the horizon of God’s plan, trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen us. Just as the disciples were called to move beyond their grief and awe at the Ascension, we too are called to move beyond our fears and doubts, embracing the mission to which we have been called. Let us ask for the grace to be faithful witnesses, sharing the love and hope of Christ with a world that so desperately needs it. May we remember that we are not alone in this task, for the Lord is always with us, confirming his word through the signs of his presence and power.