In this week’s Gospel passage, Jesus gathers His disciples for His final command before ascending into Heaven – preach the Gospel to the world. This command becomes the mission of the Church. In this lesson, students will create their own personal witness of Jesus.
Have students read the Gospel passage, or read it aloud to your students, and then answer the focus questions. You may have students answer them on their own or you may discuss them together as a class.
Review and discuss the correct answers when finished.
Have your students read about what the Church teaches about evangelization from The Mission of the Church: Our Mission. Then have students reflect on their own personal witness of Jesus using the My Personal Witness worksheet.
Answer Key
They worshipped but doubted.
He tells them that all power on Heaven and Earth had been given to Him.
He tells them to go and make disciples of all nations, to baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, and to teach them to observe all that He has commanded.
Accept reasoned answers. Jesus remains with us until the end of time, when He will come again in Judgment. He is with us in His Church, in the Sacraments, in the power of the Holy Spirit, etc.
Directions
Read the Gospel passage aloud to your students as they follow along. Then discuss the focus and reflection questions with them.
Read the directions from Go and Teach Hidden Letters to your students. Then have them find the hidden letters in the painting and write them on the lines. Last, help your students unscramble the letters to spell out Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations.
Conclude the lesson by discussing the sacred art painting with your students, using the following questions:
What are some things that you see in this painting? Jesus, the disciples, angels, rays of light, clouds, a building in the background, hills, trees, and so on. Accept other reasoned answers.
If you could rewind this painting, what do you think happened immediately before this scene? Jesus gave His disciples the mission to proclaim the Gospel to the world.
If you could fast forward this painting, what do you think would happen immediately after this scene? Perhaps the disciples prayed, or they went home amazed, or, like the Gospel says, they went out and told the world what they had witnessed. Accept other reasoned answers.
Do you think the artist did a good job illustrating Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven? Why? Or why not?
Answer Key
Focus Questions
They worshipped but doubted.
He tells them that all power on Heaven and Earth had been given to Him.
He tells them to go and make disciples of all nations, to baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, and to teach them to observe all that He has commanded.
Go and Teach Hidden Letters
The answers for Go and Teach Hidden Letters is in the Answer Key: The Ascension of the Lord resource.