Mike's Gospel Reflection for - Sunday, May 17, 2026

In this weekend’s passage from Acts, Jesus ascends into Heaven. The apostles stand there, watching Him disappear. Then, an angel asks the apostles why they are simply standing there, staring at the sky. In other words, he seems to be saying, “It is time for you guys to get moving – go start doing the work that Jesus asked you to do.” In the Gospel, we hear what that work entails: “go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

This is the Gospel passage that I often read at Baptisms. It contains the two most important instructions that Jesus gave to the apostles as they went forth to start the Church. They needed to baptize people and to teach them. Generally, baptizing folks was relatively simple: water + words = Baptism. While Baptism is indeed a highly significant moment, with life-long implications, it is accomplished rather easily.

The second task, teaching, is much more difficult to accomplish. Teaching is rarely accomplished quickly. In fact, the more complex the topic, the longer and more difficult teaching can be. A teacher must not only have a great grasp of the topic that she is teaching, but she must also be able to communicate that knowledge in a way that makes the subject “come alive” for the students so that they are both excited to learn and able to understand the topic.

Parents and grandparents are often the most important teachers of the Catholic faith to our children and grandchildren. We buy them “Jesus” dolls, read them books, sing them songs, and tell them stories about Jesus. We are trying to help them to see Jesus as a real person who loves them and who invites them into relationship with Him.

From the time that children are very young, it is important to help them to recognize that Jesus always loves us and is always with us, even though we cannot see Him, or hear Him, or even feel His presence. It’s a hard concept to explain. But we can point them to the promise that He makes to all of us right after the above passage: “I will be with you always, until the end of the age.”

Fr. Mike