Father Thomas Welbers' Homily

“Why are you standing there looking at the sky?” Those words of the heavenly messengers were first spoken to the apostles after Jesus ascended into heaven, but they were remembered and recorded in the Acts of the Apostles for us. They are spoken to us as well. How can we hear them? Well, let’s look at how the first apostles heard them.

Although the apostles knew that Jesus had been raised from the dead and was alive in their midst in a new way, their gazing longingly heavenward indicated that they were locked in their memories, they were looking backward, not forward. The words of the “men in white” make it clear that now they must shift their gaze to the presence of Jesus yet to come, and to the work ahead for them.

In the light of these words, we look at the other reading for today. St. Paul, writing to the Ephesians, gives us a graphic and poetic vision of the goal of unity of all creation in Christ. And reminds us that the power given to him is also given to us. With him as the head of the body, the church, we, the members of his body, act with his power to continue and complete his work here and now.

The “Great Commission” we heard in the Gospel shows just exactly how we are to do this – to “go, and make disciples of all nations.” Notice that Jesus does not say to convert everyone. He says, “make disciples.” People don’t become disciples through argument or debate; they become disciples through example. The secret of discipleship is that we are so on fire to live the way of Christ that it becomes infectious. It is not just a “way of life” but a complete change of heart, a change that in some way catches hold of us and turns us around. And through us, has the power to catch hold of others and draw them, not to ourselves, to Christ. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. And so, in celebrating Pentecost next week, we will be celebrating the power under which we can fulfill this great commission, the power to be the hands of Christ in all things.

© 2005 Thomas Welbers