＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40

 Ask of the times past.

Inquire from the day when God created man on earth. Ask from one end of the world to the other: Has there ever been anything as extraordinary as this? 33 Has anything like this been heard of before? Has there ever been a people who remained alive after hearing as you did the voice of the living God from the midst of the fire?

 Never has there been a God who went out to look for a people and take them out from among the other nations by the strength of trials and signs, by wonders and by war, with a firm hand and an outstretched arm. Never has there been any deed as tremendous as those done for you by Yahweh in Egypt, which you saw with your own eyes.

Therefore, try to be convinced that Yahweh is the only God of heaven and earth, and that there is no other.  Observe the laws and the commandments that I command you today, and everything will be well with you and your children after you. So you will live long in the land which Yahweh, your God, gives you forever.”

 

Ps 33:4-5, 6, 9, 12b, 18-19, 22

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Romans 8:14-17

All those who walk in the Spirit of God are sons and daughters of God.  Then, no more fear: you did not receive a spirit of slavery, but the Spirit that makes you sons and daughters and every time we cry, “Abba! (this is Dad!) Father!”   the Spirit assures our spirit that we are sons and daughters of God.  If we are children, we are heirs, too. Ours will be the inheritance of God and we will share it with Christ; for if we now suffer with him, we will also share Glory with him.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊  

Matthew 28:16-20

As for the Eleven disciples, they went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.   When they saw Jesus, they bowed before him, although some doubted.

 Then Jesus approached them and said, “I have been gi­ven all authority in heaven and on earth.  Go, therefore, and make disciples from all nations. Baptize them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to fulfill all that I have commanded you. I am with you always until the end of this world.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

Read: Jesus directed His disciples to meet Him on the designated mountain where He will ascend into heaven. Even then, some disciples still doubted Him. After giving them instructions to go spread the good news and baptize all nations in the name of the Trinity, He promised to be with them even to the end of the world. 

Reflect: Till the very end, Jesus wants to spend His remaining time with His own. And when the time for Him to depart came, He still wanted His disciples to be there. And although some harbor doubts in their hearts as to His resurrection, still He has no more time to put those doubts to rest.

The Spirit will take over soon. He cannot spend His remaining precious time re-echoing His teachings on the fact of His resurrection. Instead He gives His ultimate command. His disciples have to go to all nations and bring His teachings there in the name of the Trinitarian God. And he promised His presence wherever they go.

He may not be physically present but he will still be an active partner in the mission. This consoling promise of His abiding presence in the missionary activity will be of great help to the disciples when the going gets rough.

Respond: Doing mission is not all the time easy. Difficulties in the form of persecution, indifference and lack of resources hound the missionary every step of the way. Let us therefore support them with our prayers. And if we still have something to spare, offer it for the support of missions all over the world. Through our gifts no matter how small, God's work continues.