በሰንበት ዐርገ

22 ግንቦት 2019 · 2027-05-30

Saint Paul teaches that religious zeal must be guided by the truth revealed in Jesus Christ. Salvation is not achieved by trying to establish our own righteousness. Christ is the fulfilment and goal of the Law for everyone who believes. The saving Word is not distant or unreachable. It is near us—in our mouths and in our hearts. Saint Paul summarises the response of faith: Believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and confess Him as Lord. This salvation is offered without discrimination. There is one Lord who is generous toward everyone who calls upon Him: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Saint John warns believers against teachings that deny Jesus as the Christ. Christians have received an anointing from the Holy One and must remain in the truth entrusted to them. The believer must remain in Christ so that when He appears, we may meet Him with confidence rather than shame. True knowledge of Christ produces righteous living. Those who profess faith in Him must allow that faith to shape their conduct. In Acts, the disciples ask Jesus when He will restore the Kingdom. Jesus redirects their attention away from dates and speculation. Their responsibility is not to know every hidden time fixed by the Father. Their responsibility is mission: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses.” The mission begins in Jerusalem but extends to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. The Ascension does not mean that Christ has abandoned His disciples. It marks the beginning of their Spirit-filled responsibility to carry His Gospel throughout the world. After Jesus is taken from their sight, the disciples continue looking upward. The heavenly messengers ask why they are standing there gazing into heaven. Christ will return, but until that day the Church must fulfil the mission He has given. In the Gospel, Jesus connects love with obedience: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” He promises another Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will remain with the disciples, teach them, remind them of Christ’s words, and make God’s presence dwell within them. Jesus gives His disciples a peace different from the peace offered by the world. Because of that peace, their hearts should not be troubled or afraid. The Ascension directs the eyes of Christians toward heaven but does not remove their responsibility on earth. We await Christ’s return by remaining in His truth, obeying His commandments, receiving the Holy Spirit, confessing Him openly, and carrying the Gospel through our words, service, and holy lives. The ascended Lord reigns in glory, but He continues His saving work through the Church. Every Christian is therefore called to become a witness—from the place where he or she lives to the ends of the earth.