Lectio Divina: Sunday of the Ascension of the Lord - Cycle A

on 18 May, 2023
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Bogotá (Colombie), Sr. Ana Francisca Vergara, May 21, 2023.- Dimensions of the encounter with Jesus.

GOSPEL

Matthew 28, 16 - 20 

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. When they saw him, they fell down before Him, but some of them doubted. Jesus came and spoke to them:

"I have been given full authority in heaven and on earth. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptize them, consecrating them to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all that I have commanded you. I will be with you always, even to the end of time".  

STUDY OF THE TEXT

The ending of Matthew's gospel differs from that of the other three evangelists in that the words that conclude or close the book are not those of the redactor but those of the risen Lord himself. We could break these words down into three dimensions or moments of the encounter between the disciples and Jesus before rising to heaven:

  1. I have been given full authority in heaven and on earth.
  2. Go and make disciples among all peoples, baptize them, consecrating them to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.
  3. I will be with you always, to the end of time.

Each one of them marks a relational moment with Christ and sets the disciple in missionary movement.

MEDITATION

Whoever recognizes and confesses the authority of Jesus Christ as the Lord of the universe can feel himself sent to evangelize; in the Name of Jesus he will call others to follow his Master. The authentic disciple is the one who teaches others the teachings he has learned and put into practice, for a disciple is the one who enters into the discipline of his mentor, makes it a personal experience and rejoices in knowing that others, too, can accept it and bring it to life. The security of the Christian is in living that the promise of God with us is a reality, the Emmanuel will remain forever, until the end of the world, encouraging and strengthening him.

PRAYER

O Father of all goodness, we thank you for the reliability of your Word. You promised to be Emmanuel eternally and you have fulfilled it in your Son Jesus Christ, the Lord, who remains with us forever. Amen.

CONTEMPLATION

You, Lord, fulfill your promises eternally. Only if I acknowledge and confess you I can call others to follow you.