“Go out to the whole world Mk16:5”
“Proclaim the good news to all creation”.
This is the final parting message from Jesus to his disciples for all ages, as He ascended into heaven. But while on earth living like one of us He revealed the reality of what it means and what it entails, “no bed of roses”.
When I left my family home in order to do this; it had become enshrined in the expression “no cross, no crown”. This is a great constant in all our lives and of my family. The years of preparation had embedded this in my life. His final instructions compelled His Apostles and His Mother Mary to return to Jerusalem. They prepared to watch and pray because they were faithful, the Holy Spirit came down upon them and this is the great legacy of Pentecost. It is important for us each year that after the Feast of the Ascension, we likewise “watch and pray” in preparation for the Holy Spirit being poured out upon us. We may be more open and prepared for the Holy Spirit to be more active and at work in our lives.
This year gives us the opportunity to work together, to build up and renew our parish communities. The Synod, and now our parish response is truly important. As we receive reports from other parishes and churches, the continuing scandals in the churches, we must really raise up our hearts and minds to be refreshed and refocused. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us, that we can change and respond by really working together. A start has been made, and one sign of the fruits that it can bear, was the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop Richard, on Sunday at Our Lady of Ransom Church. Our 10 candidates and their sponsors, Mary, Sandra and all those who helped, left us with an inspiring moment, and a very happy occasion to celebrate and remember.
Please God, may your Holy Spirit be at work in us, and let us all say Amen to this.