Acts 1:6-14 (NRSV)
Read Acts 1:6-14 on biblegateway.com
Verse 6So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" Verse 7He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. Verse 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Verse 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. Verse 10While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. Verse 11They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Verse 12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away. Verse 13When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. Verse 14All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
Devotion
Like the disciples, people down through the centuries have tried to pin down a date when the world will come to an end and Jesus will return. Jesus says, in effect, "Forget it! God knows. Don't worry about it. Trust God." In the meantime, Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit so we can be empowered for Jesus' mission. "You will be my witnesses both at home and to the ends of the world," he tells us. Yes, we can sing, "God bless America" at major league baseball games, but we are also called to pray "God bless all nations of the earth." Jesus asks us to remember that God loves the whole planet and all the people and living things on it.
Prayer
Creator of the whole world and all that exists, send your Holy Spirit on us so that we may have the courage and daring to be your witnesses to the whole world and every living thing. We pray in the name of the Risen Christ. Amen.