7th Sunday of Easter

Devotional

Day 1: Maps in the Train Car

The disciples stood on the mountain, their worship mingled with doubt. Jesus approached them not with rebuke but with authority: “All power is given to me.” He mapped their mission—baptize, teach, obey—and anchored it with a promise: “I am with you always.” Like the boy studying subway maps, they held instructions for the journey ahead. [21:23]

Jesus didn’t leave them orphans. His command to “go” was welded to His presence. The disciples’ doubt didn’t disqualify them; their obedience would become the path where faith met His faithfulness.

You carry the same promise. Where do you hesitate to “go” because you fear being alone? What if today’s ordinary step—a kind word, a patient act—is your station where Jesus waits? When did you last sense His nearness in a moment of obedience?

“Go therefore and 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. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to show you one person today who needs the assurance of His presence.
Challenge: Text or tell one person how Jesus has been with you in a specific struggle.

Day 2: Mother in the Next Car

The boy gripped his instructions, heart racing as the train rattled forward. He didn’t see his mother trailing silently in the next car, watching. At the journey’s end, he discovered she’d never left—her presence steadied his shaky courage. [24:55]

Jesus ascended not to abandon us but to walk beside us invisibly. Like the mother’s hidden vigilance, His Spirit guides without forcing, protects without smothering. The disciples’ visible Teacher became their omnipresent Lord.

Anxiety lies, shouting you’re alone. But the One who said “I am with you” sees your trembling hands. Where are you straining to control outcomes instead of resting in His nearness? What if you paused to acknowledge His hand on today’s “subway map”?

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:20, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one fear to Jesus, then thank Him for being present in it.
Challenge: Write down a worry and place it near a doorframe—touch it each time you pass, praying “Jesus, I trust in You.”

Day 3: Trust Painted on the Wall

The Divine Mercy image loomed in the church, Christ’s hand raised in blessing. Below His feet, the plea: “Jesus, I trust in You.” The boy’s mother gave directions; Jesus gives Himself. Trust isn’t a feeling—it’s choosing His presence over panic. [26:10]

Jesus’ ascension demanded radical trust. The disciples had to act like He was still leading, still empowering. Their faith wasn’t in their ability but in His unbroken nearness through the Spirit.

You’ll face moments when the “subway” of life feels derailed. Will you fixate on the rattling chaos or the hand that steadies? How might today shift if you whispered “I trust You” before reacting?

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
(2 Corinthians 5:7, ESV)

Prayer: Pray “Jesus, I trust in You” three times slowly, naming a current struggle each time.
Challenge: Write “JESUS I TRUST IN YOU” on three sticky notes; place them where you’ll see them hourly.

Day 4: Instructions and the Instructor

The boy’s mother didn’t just hand him a map—she rode with him. Jesus didn’t just give commands; He gave His Spirit. The disciples weren’t left with a checklist but a Companion. Teaching others “to observe” starts with letting Him reshape your habits. [28:06]

Jesus’ final words weren’t about information but imitation. The disciples’ credibility came from living what they taught. Like the boy following his mother’s example, we’re called to mirror Christ’s love, not lecture about it.

Where does your life preach a louder sermon than your words? What mundane act—patience in a line, kindness to a critic—could show someone the Jesus you proclaim?

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things.”
(Philippians 4:9, ESV)

Prayer: Ask the Spirit to highlight one area where your actions don’t align with Christ’s teachings.
Challenge: Perform one unnoticed act of service today without telling anyone.

Day 5: Father at the Station

The boy stepped off the train to find his father waiting. Ascension didn’t remove Jesus—it expanded His reign. He’s not limited by geography; He meets us in the Eucharist, the marginalized, the daily grind. Our mission ends where it began: in His arms. [25:49]

Jesus’ physical absence fuels our active hope. Every act of love, every whispered prayer, every step of obedience brings His kingdom nearer. The disciples didn’t build a monument on that mountain—they carried His presence into the world’s chaos.

You’re part of that unbroken chain. Who needs you to be their “station” where Christ’s love arrives today? How will you lean into His promise when fatigue whispers, “He’s left you”?

“And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Why do you stand looking into heaven?’”
(Acts 1:10-11, ESV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for His constant presence, then ask for courage to stop “looking” and start living.
Challenge: Invite someone to Mass or Alpha—not with pressure, but by sharing why you go.

Sermon Summary

Matthew’s Gospel sends the Eleven to Galilee, where worship and doubt sit side by side. Jesus steps in and closes the gap. Jesus claims all authority in heaven and on earth, gives the mission to make disciples, and anchors that mission with a promise that does not expire: “I am with you always until the end of the age.” The Ascension, read in that light, does not signal absence. The Ascension signals enthronement with continuing presence.

A simple parable brings that home. A boy rides the subway home with a map and directions, afraid he is alone, then finds both father waiting at the station and mother stepping out behind him. “That’s the Ascension story.” Jesus goes, yet Jesus stays. The Father receives him, and through the Spirit he rides with his disciples all the way home.

The Divine Mercy prayer distills the posture of a disciple: “Jesus, I trust in you.” But the Ascension hands back a surprising mirror. God shows faith in his people. God entrusts the work to them. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus has already taught what to do and how to do it, as the apostolic witness keeps saying. His nearness runs through the sacraments and into the ordinary: the Eucharist, the faces of those loved, the faces of the poor and the marginalized, even the faces of enemies.

The Great Commission sets the task plainly. “Go. Teach them to observe all that I commanded you.” That does not mean dumping rules on people. Teaching starts with a life that looks like Jesus. Teaching looks like love of God and love of neighbor, practiced where it costs something. For many believers, that calling needs some catch up. Catechesis, Bible study, ministries, parish talks, retreats, and tools like formed.org become the training ground where confidence and clarity grow.

Baptism shows the mission turning into a life in real time. Another little one is claimed for the Triune name. From there the call is steady and concrete. Have courage. Be his witness. Share the good news. Take responsibility for showing others the way to heaven. And remember, the same Lord who sends will also judge, which makes today’s faithfulness matter.

Key Takeaways

1. Christ’s authority fuels the mission Jesus does not send disciples out on thin ice. He grounds the Great Commission in his universal authority, so obedience is not guesswork but trust in a risen King. Mission begins where worship replaces fear, even when doubt nips at the heels. The promise of his presence carries the task beyond human capacity. [21:40]
2. Ascension means presence, not absence The subway story re-frames “departure” as a new mode of nearness. The Son goes to the Father and still keeps step with his people by the Spirit. Anxiety eases when hidden companionship is believed before it is seen. Confidence grows when the church learns to read maps and still look for the One riding along. [25:49]
3. God entrusts his work to believers Ascension faith runs both directions. Disciples trust Jesus, and Jesus trusts disciples to continue his work. The Spirit’s instruction equips ordinary saints for holy tasks in ordinary places. The trust of God dignifies the church’s daily obedience. [27:06]
4. Teach the gospel by embodied witness “Go, teach” does not start with rule lists. It starts with a credible life that makes Jesus’ commands look livable and good. Love for God and neighbor becomes the curriculum others can actually study. Integrity makes doctrine plausible. [28:31]
5. Keep learning, then speak with courage Formation is not optional; it is fuel for mission. Catechesis, studies, retreats, and solid resources shape steady saints who can carry good news without panic or pride. Courage grows where knowledge, prayer, and practice meet. Judgment is coming, which makes today’s training urgent. [29:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Readings, Missal, and announcements
[08:39] - Greeting and start of liturgy
[21:23] - Gospel in Galilee: worship and doubt
[21:40] - The Great Commission and promise
[22:23] - Naming the Ascension
[23:03] - Modern subway parable begins
[25:49] - That’s the Ascension story
[26:10] - “Jesus, I trust in you”
[26:50] - God’s faith in his church
[28:31] - Teach by example, not rules
[29:06] - Formation tools and resources
[29:23] - Courage, witness, and accountability
[32:09] - Prayers and sending forth

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and 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. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Observation Questions

In Matthew 28:17, the disciples both worshiped and doubted. What does this reveal about their emotional and spiritual state at the time?
How does Jesus connect his “authority in heaven and on earth” to the mission he gives his disciples? [21:40]
The sermon uses a subway parable where the boy’s mother is secretly present. How does this story re-frame the idea of Jesus’ absence after the Ascension? [25:49]
What does the Divine Mercy prayer (“Jesus, I trust in you”) reveal about the posture of a disciple, according to the sermon? [26:10]

Interpretation Questions

Why might Jesus emphasize his authority before giving the Great Commission? How does this authority address both worship and doubt in believers?
The sermon says, “The Ascension signals enthronement with continuing presence.” How does Jesus’ physical departure actually deepen his spiritual nearness to believers?
The phrase “God entrusts his work to believers” suggests a mutual trust between God and his people. What risks or opportunities does this create for the church? [27:06]
How does “teaching them to observe all I commanded you” differ from merely teaching rules? What role does a lived example play in making disciples? [28:31]

Application Questions

Where in your life do you most struggle to believe Jesus is “with you always,” even when circumstances feel uncertain? What practical step could help you lean into his presence this week?
The subway parable highlights hidden companionship. When have you later realized God was with you in a situation where you initially felt alone? How might this shape your response to future challenges?
The sermon stresses that teaching starts with a life that “looks like Jesus.” What is one area of your daily life (e.g., work, family, community) where you could better model love for God and neighbor in a way others might notice?
Formation tools like Bible study or retreats are called “fuel for mission.” Which of these practices do you need to prioritize to grow in courage and clarity as a disciple? [29:23]
The sermon says, “God shows faith in his people.” What responsibility does this truth place on you personally? How might it change your approach to serving others?
Baptism marks the start of a lifelong mission. How can you intentionally support others—especially new believers—in their journey to “observe all that [Jesus] commanded”?

Sermon Clips

47s

“``But the ascension also expresses a different kind of faith, god's faith in us. Of course, we have faith in him, but he also has faith in us. What kind of faith? Well, the faith that we will continue his work here on earth. Through the holy spirit, he taught the disciples and us what to do and how to do it, just like Saint Paul said in today's second reading. And he doesn't leave us. Spiritually, he's here for us and with us in good times and in bad, sort of like the marriage vows, only this is more eternal. It doesn't stop till death do us part. It goes on, hopefully, to heaven. Right?”

59s

“He wants to be within us. We find him in the Eucharist. We find him in the faces of the ones we love, in the faces of the ones he told us to love, the poor, the marginalized, even our enemies. Remember, Jesus' last words on earth were go. Teach them to observe all that I commanded you. That was in today's gospel. But that doesn't mean we should unload on people all the Catholic rules. It's probably not a really good way to bring somebody into the church or back into the church. I don't think that's what happened to Sarah. Promise that won't happen to anybody at Alpha. But what it does mean is teach by example how to live a Christian life well. That means to love God and love others as he loves us.”

46s

“During my cancer journey, I have been praying, Jesus, I trust in you, about a 100 times a day. If you look toward the back in the back of church, there's a big painting of divine mercy, really tall painting. It's next to that little brown door that leads to that little room over there. Some of you know what's in that little room and some of you don't. It's the confession room and we should all visit that occasionally. At the bottom of that painting is the quote that Jesus asked Faustina to put on this portrait, and it says, Jesus, I trust in you. That's a very simple but powerful prayer.”

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Our Lady of Joy Catholic Parish This sermon · AI assistant

What is the implication of the Ascension for disciples?

How does Jesus entrust his mission to believers?

In what ways is Christ present among us?