Jesus said to his disciples:
Go into the whole world
and proclaim the gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
Most gracious and loving God today you command us to carry your word to all peoples that they may believe in you and also become messengers of your great hope. Help us to be gentle and humble teachers who teach about you through our service to others. Help us to be loving toward each other as we remember your divine spark lives in each person we encounter. Through these graces Lord may the world be transformed and all souls saved.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.