LIVE IT TODAY: Sunday, May 17, 2026 | Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
I am with you always—go boldly and make disciples in My Name.
LIVE IT TODAY: Sunday, May 17, 2026 | Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
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GOD’S DECLARATION TO YOU TODAY.
I am with you always—go boldly and make disciples in My Name.
INVOCATION
Come, Holy Spirit! Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother Mary, open my heart to hear and receive all that You desire for me. Draw me ever more deeply into the Love and Life of the Blessed Trinity!
GOSPEL | Matthew 28:16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
Then Jesus approached and said to them,
“All power 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, until the end of the age.”
EVERY DAY QUESTION
What struck you? Challenged you? Inspired you? What questions did it raise?
GOING DEEPER
The Ascension is not Christ leaving us behind—it is Christ sending us forward.
Do you see yourself merely as someone trying to survive life—or as someone personally commissioned by Jesus Christ?
The Gospel begins with a fascinating detail: “They worshiped, but they doubted.” Even standing before the risen Christ, some still wrestled interiorly. The Greek word distazō suggests hesitation, wavering, uncertainty. And yet Jesus still entrusts them with His mission. This should deeply encourage us. God does not wait for flawless disciples before sending them.
Then comes the staggering declaration: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” The risen Jesus is not merely inspirational—He is sovereign. History is not spiraling outside His control. The Ascension is the enthronement of Christ the King.
And because He reigns, He sends: “Go, therefore, and make disciples.” The central command here is not simply “go,” but “make disciples.” Christianity is not passive association or occasional religious participation. A disciple is a learner, follower, imitator—someone whose entire life is reshaped by Christ. Comfortable Christianity creates spectators; missionary Christianity forms saints.
Notice too the Trinitarian heart of the mission: “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” We are baptized not merely into a religion, but into the very life of the Trinity. The Christian life is participation in divine communion.
And what are disciples taught? “To observe all that I have commanded you.” Not merely admire. Not selectively follow. Observe. Live. Embody. In a culture increasingly built on personal preference and self-definition, Jesus still speaks with divine authority.
This mission begins first in the home. Parents are not simply raising children to be successful—they are forming disciples. The domestic church is the first classroom of faith, the first mission field, the first witness to the Gospel. Our children learn what Christianity truly means not primarily from what we say, but from what we consistently live.
And then comes the promise that changes everything: “I am with you always.” The Greek phrase literally means “all the days.” Not occasionally. Not only in victories. Every day. Christ does not send us alone. His presence accompanies His mission. Courage grows where Christ’s presence is remembered.
Today, remember who you are. You are not merely managing schedules, careers, and responsibilities. You are commissioned by the risen Christ. Parents, lead your families with missionary purpose. Pray over your children by name, asking that they become courageous disciples in a confused world. And trust that the same Jesus who ascended into heaven still walks beside you every single day.
“The duty of Christians to take part in the life of the Church impels them to act as witnesses of the Gospel and of the obligations that flow from it.” (CCC 2472)
LIFE APPLICATION QUESTIONS
In My Heart: Where do I hesitate or doubt instead of fully embracing Christ’s mission for my life?
In My Home: How can we more intentionally form our family as disciples of Jesus Christ?
In My World: Who is God calling me to encourage, teach, or lead closer to Christ right now?
FAMILY LIVE IT
Make some time today to gather together and, going around … share one way you can more intentionally live as a disciple of Jesus this week.
Then pray together as a family. Lay hands on each person and pray over them by name:
“Jesus, strengthen [Name] to follow You boldly. Help them trust You even when they struggle or doubt. Fill them with courage, wisdom, and joy. Make them a faithful disciple who brings Your love and truth into the world.”
Pray for deep confidence in Christ’s presence, freedom from fear and hesitation, strength to live as missionary disciples, and joyful courage to follow Jesus faithfully each day.
Daily Challenge: Reach out intentionally to one person today with encouragement, prayer, or an invitation that points them closer to Christ.
DAILY PARENT & GRANDPARENT BLESSING
LORD JESUS CHRIST, let Your holy anointing be upon each of our children, grandchildren, and godchildren this day and week, including all to whom they are called in vocation, and all future generations! In Your Sacred Name we claim them for You! We renounce all whispers, lies, and influences of the Enemy! We pray right now that each know Your loving Presence, be forged in virtue, and be flooded with an abundance of Your Holy Spirit to live fully their identity and mission in You now and through all eternity, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother! Amen.
PARENT BLESSING PROJECT: bit.ly/ParentBlessing
GOING VERTICAL
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Just as the vertical beam upholds the horizontal beam of the Cross, so too does undistracted, dedicated daily turning to God as our lifeblood uphold and strengthen every part of life. Start with just three minutes. Wait patiently for the breakthrough beyond the noise. Let Him speak.
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