Jesus had taught them and demonstrated for his disciples the power of faith and grace. Now the time had come for a new time in their lives. As long as Jesus was present with them, they would be dependent on him. Following the Ascension that we celebrate this coming Sunday, they were challenged to go forth into the world as his witnesses after they received the power of the Holy Spirit. This Sunday leads to the next celebration: the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
The graduates will enrich and change the world as they live out what they have learned. The disciples would take the good news of Jesus out of Jerusalem into the far corners of the world. We are called to grow in our faith as that faith shines through in our lives; it too will enrich and change the world around us. Indeed as the sign says as we leave the parking lot at our church, “Our Mission Begins Now.”
May God bless you and yours,
April 23, 2008
© Dunwoody United Methodist Church
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We call the ceremony for graduating, a commencement. In high schools, colleges and graduate schools this spring, there will be commencements. There is a great deal of mixed feelings at such a time. The graduates are saying goodbye to a world that they have been a part of for several years. They know they will probably see their friends far less as they graduate. But there is also the joy of accomplishment and the excitement of starting a whole new phase of one’s life. Perhaps that is the reason we call it a commencement.
