Leave-taking of the Ascension. The Holy Apostle Carpus, One of the Seventy Disciples
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
Acts 27:1-44; John 17:18-26.
Read John 17:18-26
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
We receive today a portion of the High Priestly prayer of Jesus. In the prayer Jesus prays to the Father for his disciples and those who are to come after them: “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word…” Belief comes through the sharing of the word of the Gospel, which is proclaimed by the disciples and their subsequent successors. Notice that the proclamation of the Gospel is of such high priority that Jesus does not say, ‘for those who believe in me through the example of the lives of my disciples…” Yes, Jesus expects that we live a life rooted in him. A light lived in Christ allows the light of Christ to shine through us into the darkness of the world, but as valuable as this is it’s not enough. The light expels the darkness and belief then grows through the reception of the Word of God; in other words, the proclamation of the Gospel ignites belief.
It’s amazing to think that we have the privilege of participating in God’s movement of salvation. In fact we, who are disciples of Christ, are sent into the world for this specific mission. Just like the Father sent the Son into the world to save the world, through the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection, so too we are sent by Christ to continue this movement of salvation. We are his Body and Christ works through us to touch the hearts of people who are in need of God’s salvation. It’s completely ridiculous to think that the Son of God could have been indifferent in the fulfilling of the mission of the Gospel, or not being willing to share the word of the Gospel which he received from the Father. When we close the door to the possibility of sharing the Gospel with others we are being indifferent to the mission that Christ has given us. Let’s take a moment today to think how I can be a brighter light and bring the Good News of the Gospel to whoever Christ brings into my life.