Daily Readings - Sun May 24 2020

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."

Ephesians

Chapter 1

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.

Matthew

Chapter 28

¹⁶Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.¹⁷When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Sermon

In today's readings, we journey through pivotal moments in the life of the early Church and the mission of Jesus' disciples. The first reading from Acts recounts Jesus' ascension and the promise of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the disciples' role as witnesses. The second reading from Ephesians offers a prayer for wisdom and highlights Christ's supreme authority over all creation. The Gospel in Matthew presents the Great Commission, where Jesus commands His disciples to baptize and teach all nations, promising His enduring presence. These readings are interconnected by themes of authority, mission, and empowerment. Acts sets the stage with the ascension and the promise of the Holy Spirit, equipping the disciples for their mission. Ephesians deepens our understanding of Christ's authority, which underpins the confidence needed for the task. Matthew's Great Commission calls us to action, supported by the assurance of Christ's presence. In our daily lives, these readings inspire us to embrace our role as modern-day disciples. We are called to trust in God's plan, to be courageous in sharing the Gospel, and to live with purpose, knowing we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. The moral lesson is clear: as followers of Christ, we are entrusted with a mission that requires faith, courage, and reliance on God's power. Let us live with hope and purpose, fulfilling our calling as witnesses of Christ's love and truth.