Jesus Christ, present in the Church, communicates his mission to him
Jesus Christ offered himself for us. He took up the fight against evil. Through his death and resurrection, he has finally overcome sin. He reconciled us with the Father. He ensured us return to the Father's house. Thus, in his death and resurrection, Christ fully accomplished the work of salvation. He fulfilled the mission entrusted to him by the Father.
How his mission and work reach us and all people ?
"He appeared to them for forty days"
The risen Christ gave the Apostles much evidence of this, that-lives: ,,He appeared to them for forty days and spoke of God's Kingdom. And during the meal together, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but wait for the Father's promise : «You have heard about her from me - (he spoke) - John baptized with water, but you will soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit ». The people gathered asked him : «Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel » ? He answered them : «It is not for you to know the times and moments, which the Father established by his authority, but when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive His power and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all over Judea, and in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth »" (Dz 1,3-8). The risen Jesus appeared to the Apostles for forty days, he strengthened their faith in the resurrection and continued to instruct them about the mysteries of God's kingdom. He did so for the sake of the task, that were waiting for them. They will begin to fill them, when they will receive the promised Holy Spirit. In this way, Jesus Christ prepared his Church, born on the cross, to accept this mission, which he himself has fulfilled so far, during his earthly life.
In the Acts of the Apostles, the period of forty days is presented as the time of preparation of the Church to fulfill her tasks.
The mission of the Church and the new presence of Christ
Matthew the evangelist speaking about the mission, which Jesus Christ communicated to the whole Church, explains them as follows : “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to keep everything, what I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you all the days, until the end of the world " (Mt 28, 19-20).
So the church will not be doing its job instead of Christ, but together with Christ, which is still present in it. However, this is not the same presence as it was before the resurrection. Therefore, Christ, during these forty days, he prepared the Apostles for this new presence. He already lives with the Father, and only appears to the students, to get them used to being present among them, real, though invisible. They will no longer be able to touch Him or see Him. They know his presence only "through signs". The sacramental signs will testify especially to Christ's presence and action. It is in this invisible way that Christ will be present in the Church, among the People of God, until He comes again in glory.
St.. John the evangelist passes, that in those forty days Christ communicated to the Apostles his mission and the power to forgive sins : "As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you… Receive the Holy Spirit ! Whose sins you will forgive, they are forgiven, and which you keep, are kept from them " (J 20, 21-23).
Finally, the apostle John speaks of the delegation of power to Peter. Christ entrusted him with looking after his Flock, that is, over the whole Church : “Feed my lambs ! Feed my sheep !” (J 21, 15-17).
This is how the Church was equipped by Christ to fulfill her task.
How will I answer God ?
I already know, that Christ lives and works in his Church. He saves me through the Church and in the Church. When on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord (year ABC) I will hear a reading from the Acts of the Apostles, together with all those gathered, I would like to thank Christ for this, that he stayed with us in the Church. How you listen to His teachings, how many times do you meet Him in the Eucharistic Assembly, that is, during the Holy Mass ?
Do you unite with Him in the sacraments of St., especially in the Eucharist ? How you testify to others about Christ present in the Church ?
■ Think:
1. What the Acts of the Apostles say about the forty days of the Risen Christ with the Apostles ?
2. What does St.. Matthew on the mission of the Church and the further presence of Christ in the Church ?
3. What else, according to St.. Jana, Christ has handed over to the Church ?
4. How is the risen Christ present among us now ?
■ Remember:
45. What God teaches us in the account of the Acts of the Apostles about the forty days after the resurrection ?
In the story of the Acts of the Apostles about the forty days after the resurrection, God teaches us :
a) about the great importance of the Church in the work of salvation,
b) about the real presence of Jesus Christ in his Church.
■ Task :
Idea, when and how do we remember during the Holy Mass. about the presence of Christ among us ?