6th Week of Easter : Thursday 29th May 2025

“You are witnesses to this.” Prior to His ascending to the Father in heaven, Jesus reminds His disciples of His life and mission on earth. His passion, death and resurrection were not per chance but events long foretold in the Law and the Prophets. Because of Christ’s selfless sacrifice, repentance – not vengeance – would be preached to all nations, starting from Jerusalem. The disciples saw all the sacrificial acts of Jesus and are now missioned to continue on this work once they “are clothed with the power from on high”, alluding to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

With these instructions, Jesus gave His disciples a final blessing before ascending to heaven to take up His place on the right hand side of the Father where the Lord too awaits the day when He will return to judge humanity for what it has (or has not) done for each other in living the Good News that the disciples were commissioned to spread.

Now, how have we been witnessing the forgiveness of God to a punitive society and trolling media-bullies? We too are witnesses to the Good News, keeping in mind the key words: repentance and reconciliation as the duties obligated to us, human. The Ascension of the Lord is not a sad occasion of parting with Jesus but an opportunity to be renewed in our zeal for the mission entrusted to us until He comes again.

Lord Jesus, sustain us in our effort to witness repentance and reconciliation.