On this Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, Father Greg Heille, OP, reflects on the final chapter of Matthew’s Gospel. While the Ascension marks Jesus' physical departure, it also marks the "sending out" for every believer.
Fr. Greg connects the mountain of the Ascension in Galilee back to the mountain of the Transfiguration, where Jesus was first revealed in radiant light. Today, that same light is entrusted to us. We are commissioned to go forth, baptize all nations, and teach the world everything Jesus commanded.
Drawing from the Acts of the Apostles and St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians, this reflection focuses on the power of the Holy Spirit and the "spirit of wisdom" that enlightens the eyes of our hearts. Even in a world that often sees only the "scandal of the cross," we are called to be signs of contradiction—proclaiming peace, healing the hurting, and offering the radiant hope of the Resurrection.
✨ **Key Takeaway:** The Ascension is not an ending, but a commissioning. We are the ambassadors of Christ, called to reach the poor, the dispossessed, and the brokenhearted.
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**🕒 TIMELINE / CHAPTERS:**
0:00 - Introduction: The Feast of the Ascension
0:15 - Matthew Chapter 28: From Resurrection to Commissioning
0:32 - Returning to the Mountain in Galilee
1:01 - The Great Commission: All Power in Heaven and Earth
1:26 - The Promise: "I am with you always"
1:40 - Receiving Power: The Holy Spirit in Acts Chapter 1
2:07 - Ephesians: Enlightening the Eyes of Our Hearts
2:32 - A Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation
2:52 - Being a Sign of Contradiction in Today’s World
3:09 - Our Identity: Disciples Who Touch and Heal
3:22 - Conclusion: Believing in the Power of the Spirit
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