Mission Days –Ascension to Pentecost 1

By “invitation of His Beatitude Sviatoslav and embark together on a pilgrimage towards Pentecost… to proclaim the Good News of Christ’s Gospel to all who seek to hear the Word of God.” The Ukrainian Byzantine Church, indeed, all churches ought to be prayerfully engaged during these days with intense personal prayer and mission (action) for the sake of building up the Body of Christ –the Church on various levels. Personal conversion to Christ is paramount.

The Ukrainian Synod of Bishops proposes to us: “Through our active participation in the spiritual efforts of these ten Mission Days, once again we are called upon to discover and understand anew that our parish communities and families (domestic churches) are missionary in nature. Such understanding flows from the gift of our Baptism, by virtue of which, and through the power of its mystery, we have committed ourselves to believe, live, serve, and share the experience of our faith in Christ; and not simply with our family members, but with everyone we meet in life. Thus, the mission of our parish community is to allow Christ to enter deeper into our lives, to carry the Good News beyond our own community and to support those who expand the boundaries of the Kingdom of God with their missionary activity and chaplaincy ministry.

“From the feast of the Ascension to Pentecost, together with our entire parish community, let us pray that the Lord might renew our life in God by the grace and intercession of the Holy Spirit.

“If circumstances do not allow your parish to conduct Mission Days during the week or if you personally cannot participate in them, you are invited to observe Mission Days in your own home, setting aside at least five minutes of family time in order to read … [what follows] (Word of God, Meditation, Quotation-witness, Prayer), and then to discuss among yourselves the Missionary Tasks provided for each day. Another possibility is to observe Mission Days in a prayerful gathering together with other families, with your neighbors, for example.

Thanks to Bishop Josaphat (Moshchych), Rev. Dr. Oleg Kindiy, V. Rev. Andrew T. Onuferko, S.Th.D. and the UGCC Council for Evangelization

Day 1 – Friday

Read: Gospel of John 14:1–11

Prayer. When You had ful lled Your plan for us and united things on earth with those in heaven, You ascended in glory, O Christ our God, in no way distant, but remaining inseparable, You cried to those who love You: I am with You and there is none against you. (Kontakion, Ascension Thursday)

Missionary tasks.

1. Personal/Family. Let us ask ourselves: do I believe that God loves me personally. Let us pray for those who love us and those who hate us. Today-tomorrow let us show our love to our family members through some unexpected gesture or good deed.

2. Parish. Let us ask ourselves: how do I let my fellow parishioners know that they are my brothers and sisters? Let us go to church always greeting one another. In particular, let those who live alone experience our brotherly or sisterly love.

3. Beyond the parish. Today-tomorrow let us discretely give a compliment to three strangers: at work, while shopping, while taking a train or bus, or just in our neighborhood.