ELEVENTH STATION OF VIA LUCIS: The Risen Lord Sends the Disciples into the World

We adore You, O Christ

and we praise You! 

Because by the Wood of the Cross and

the Light of the Resurrection, 

You have redeemed the world!

Reading:  "'Go therefore, and make disciples of all the 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'"  (Matthew 28: 19-20).

Reflection:  From the mountaintop, the Risen Lord gives the "Great Commission" to the disciples to reach out to the ends of the earth.  We realize that we are the recipients of this faith-filled mission: our ancestors embraced the faith of the apostles, who were the original witnesses of the resurrection.  The greatest response we can give to such a legacy is our dedication to a new evangelization of our contemporary culture.  We must allow the Risen Lord to reinvigorate our whole way of living, helping us to re-evaluate every aspect of our lives with the values of the Kingdom of God.

Silence

Prayer:  God of all creation, whose mighty power raised Jesus from the dead, be present to this community of disciples whom You have called to the hope of a glorious inheritance among the saints.  Strengthen us in the power of the Spirit to go and make disciples of all nations, to obey everything that Jesus Christ has commanded us, and to know that He is with us always until the end of the age, interceding on our behalf, living and reigning with You in the power of the Holy Spirit, now and forevermore.  Amen.

All:  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
And we with Holy Church unite,
As evermore is just and right,
in glory to the King of light. Alleluia.

NEXT:  TWELFTH STATION OF VIA LUCIS: The Risen Lord Ascends into Heaven