“I am with you always, until the end of the age.” –Matthew 28:20
What a comfort those final words of Jesus are! When we are feeling the everyday stress of life, Jesus says, “I am with you always.” When a challenging event raises our stress level beyond what we think we can handle, Jesus says, “I am with you always.” When we struggle to get out of bed, face a difficult day at work, deal with a misunderstanding or hurt, worry about our child or marriage, Jesus says, “I am with you always.”
Christ is present to us through the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. As the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity this Sunday, we are reminded that we may seek solace in the Holy Spirit’s presence and gifts. But resting in the Holy Spirit’s presence is only good for a while. Just before Jesus spoke those comforting words, he commissioned the disciples to “[M]ake 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.”
Rest up, find the deep well of peace that the Holy Spirit offers, and continue making disciples. Doing so is our baptismal call.
May 13 was the last lesson of the 2017–18 year of the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies. If your classes continue beyond that Sunday, there are free Late Close Lessons at each level that include a general lesson on the parables and Creation, as well as one for Pentecost. They are available for Seeds, Promise, Good News, Venture, and Visions. You will note that the first Late Close lesson online is marked as Lesson 2. This is because Lesson 1 is for the Ascension, which was the final lesson in this year’s Gospel Weeklies. Those who have purchased the Activity Books will find three additional Late Close Lessons for each level there as well.
Image credit: Thoom/Shutterstock.com
_________
