"You will be my witnesses."

“Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?" This question, asked by "two men dressed in white garments" after Jesus had ascended, was a very important one for the Apostles in that moment. The time of Jesus' earthly visible presence was at an end. And before he ascended, both in the account from Acts and from this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus tells them that they are to be his witnesses. 

But there the Apostles stood, looking up to heaven, and presumably nervous about what was being asked of them. They had witnessed a man who spoke words that transformed lives; a man who was bold enough to forgive sins; a man who died and then rose again! They heard him speak of God's love for them. And they heard him promise them "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." And then he ascended to heaven.

Then, all of a sudden, these two men dressed in white garments, presumably angels, shook them out of their stupor. They say to the Apostles "Why are you looking up? He will come again!" And, essentially, they are telling them, "Get to work! He told you that you are to be his witnesses 'in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth!' All the things you saw Jesus do before, it is now up to you to do them! Go and tell people about the amazing things God has done!" And while they still waited around for another week or so before the Holy Spirit did indeed come upon them with great power, the mission was now made clear.

And it is important to remember: the mission did not end with the Apostles! Jesus is now saying to us the same thing he said to them: "you will be my witnesses in Toledo, throughout Ohio and Michigan, and to the ends of the earth!” So, let us embrace the witness we have received from the generations of Christians who have come before us. Let us recognize the gift of the Holy Spirit given to us in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. Let us stop looking up to the sky or to someone else to proclaim the Gospel! And let us take up our place in the story to go forth and be his witnesses!

Want to prepare your heart and mind for Mass this weekend? Click here to find the readings this Sunday's Mass.