Happy Commissioning

Happy Commissioning
Ascension Sunday
Mk. 16: 15 - 20

Speaking before the graduating class of '99 in Loyola Marymount University, Fr. Thomas O'Malley, SJ made one simple statement that gave tremendous consolation to the graduates. He said, "You are now empowered to make a change in the world through your chosen profession."

Not that we are thinking about money and getting rich all the time, which is sometimes the main reason why we went to school, the good university president gave us a new perspective, a new way of seeing education - asempowerment, to make a change, to bring healing, and to bring life to a set of people living in darkness, in selfishness, and sin.

Today is the feast of the Ascension, a great time when Jesus ascended to heaven, body and soul to the awe and wonderment of many. and Jesus said these beautiful words, "All power in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." Is he talking only to the disciples, to the Twelve, and to the Blessed Mother? Is he talking only to the present-day priests and bishops, and even the pope to teach and preach the gospel at masses and to ask for endless donations why the people of God sit and let the hour pass so they can do want they want after the mass? For whom are the words of empowerment addressed to?

"The disciple" is a generic term to any who has heard, seen, and believed in Jesus as the Son of God. It is directed to each of us to "make a change" to a wounded society by living out the gospel. Now, it is the Christian who is molded by the matierialistic society; he is molded for the worse. Be renewed by the message of the Ascension. Jesus is talking to all of us, to you and me. Live out and preach the gospel. Share them to your children so that they can share them to their children. Let ours be a generation coming closer to the Ascension, walking towards God!

Photo taken from: http://www.scborromeo.org/images/ascend.jpg

Copyright (c) 2006
Fr. Joselito Jopson

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