Years ago there was an action/adventure drama called “Mission Impossible” in which at the beginning of the program the lead agent would receive instructions on the mission that was ahead and then he was told that should he accept the mission there would be no further communication about the mission and then the source of information would disappear, usually just disintegrating before him, going up in a puff of smoke.  Although the mission always looked like an impossible mission at the beginning, by the end of the hour the mission had become “Mission Accomplished”.  In Luke’s account of the gospel he begins with a “Mission Impossible” and concludes with a “Mission Accomplished”.  In the gospel this impossible mission is entrusted to a small child that is born of a Virgin in perilous times.  Angels announce the nature of this mission in that this child will bring peace to a troubled world through the forgiveness of sin.  The child will have to go up against the Ancient Enemy of humankind, Satan, and will be supported by the Holy Spirit of God and the angels.  Looking at this small, vulnerable infant who will have to go up against the most powerful leaders in the world at that time the success of this mission seems improbable if not truly impossible.  Throughout the gospel we will see how the angel’s promise to the Blessed Mother is fulfilled when Gabriel proclaims that nothing is impossible with God.  This reassurance is given by Jesus in his teaching when he affirms that with God all things are possible.  At the end of Luke’s gospel today we see how what seemed like an impossible mission has been accomplished by the faithfulness and obedience of Jesus, drawing only upon his own personal gifts and teaching and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in him.

     Today on the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord we see how the story is far from over.  A new chapter has begun and a new mission is entrusted to the apostles.  Jesus gives instructions to the apostles and the angels are again with the apostles to announce the “Mission Impossible”.  In the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles we see how the new mission that is given to the apostles is to now carry the Good News to the ends of the earth, to all people everywhere.  Eleven men, chosen by Jesus as his apostles, will go up against all the rulers of the world to establish the Church and bring the gift of salvation to all peoples.  They also will use only their own gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit working within them to accomplish their mission.  Throughout the book of Acts the drama unfolds until finally we see in its final chapter how the impossible mission has now become “Mission Accomplished” when the gospel is preached in the center of the Roman Empire, the city of Rome.  After giving his instructions to the apostles, Jesus and the angels disappear into the heavens to return again once the mission has been accomplished.

     Nothing is impossible for God.  Against all odds, against formidable enemies, against human weaknesses, against natural disasters the plan of salvation unfolds and is accomplished by the apostles.  Their secret weapon is not some trick new technological toy but the love of God that conquers sin, fear, evil and even death itself.  This love is poured out upon them by the gift of the Holy Spirit who will teach them everything that they need to know for their mission and will remind them of the love that the Father and the Son have for them.  Faith opens the way for them to escape dangers, understand new truths and establish a new order in the world.

     The story is still far from over.  There are still chapters to be written in this great drama of salvation.  Each of us is entrusted with a “Mission Impossible” that, with the help of the Holy Spirit and living a life in the Spirit, will one day become “Mission Accomplished” in each of our lives.  Should we accept this mission we are in for a great adventure.  The fate of the world still lies in the balance and is dependent upon faithful witnesses to carry out the mission that is entrusted to them.  Often this mission seems impossible in our world today, it seems that we are bound to fail, but through it all we discover that nothing is impossible with God.   What will happen to the world if the mission is not accepted, if we cannot find the courage to go forward in faith, if there is no one to be the hero?  Let’s hope we never find out.  The mission is now in our hands, let us live the adventure of faith, the final chapters are still to be written in our lives.