ASCENSION OF THE LORD

HOMILY

Aren't we lucky we don't take the Scriptures literally? If we did it would appear from today's Gospel that only multilingual, snake-wrangling, poison-drinking exorcists, with a gift for healing, would be seen as the genuine Christian article. That would leave most of us out in the cold.

This passage, however, is a dramatic addition to Mark's Gospel to show that even though Jesus is now at the right hand of God, he sends his disciples out to the whole world to carry on his ministry, and that he will protect us when trials come. And even though there have been tragic and shocking chapters in our 2,000 year history, it's good for us to remember what God has done in and through us as we have gone out and proclaimed the saving love of Christ. Today 33% of the world's population are, at least nominally, Christian, numbering 2.1 billion people, making us the largest religion in the world. Our Catholic family accounts for just over half this group. We have around 1.1 billion Catholic brothers and sisters worldwide. Many Christians continue to be persecuted or discriminated for their faith, and some continue to die for their love of Christ which impels them to seek justice for all.

But the feast of the Ascension is not just an opportunity for us to look back on how we have tried to fulfil the command of the Lord to go out to the world. Indeed, this feast is primarily focused on where we are going from here on in. The Ascension promises us that just as the Father raised Jesus from the dead, so too the Father, Son and Spirit will welcome us into heaven as well, to be at Christ's right hand for eternity. This parable demonstrates the point.

In 1939 a father and son were famous art collectors. When World War II broke out, the son volunteered. In 1944 the son died in battle while rescuing another soldier. A year later, a young man came to see the father. ‘Sir, you don't know me but I was with your son when he died. I want you to know he didn't suffer.'

‘I know you both loved art, and though this isn't much, I want you to have it.' He gave the father a package. Inside was a portrait of the son. It was rough work, but the father welled up with tears. ‘It was the least I could do for your son because he saved my life.'

A few months later, the father died. At the art auction which followed, investors gathered from around the world. The first item up for bid was the portrait of the son.

The auctioneer tried to start the bidding, ‘$200 … $100 … Any bids? Any at all?' The investors called out, ‘Skip this one. Where are the Rembrandts?' Just then a man spoke up from the back. ‘I'll give you ten dollars for the painting. It's all the money I have.' It was the gardener at the father's estate. So the auctioneer brought down his gavel. ‘Sold for ten dollars!' An investor called back, ‘Can we now get on with it?'

But the auctioneer continued, ‘The auction is over. According to the will, whoever bought this painting would inherit the estate, including all the art.'

No matter what they said the wealthy investors couldn't buy their way into the inheritance. Only the one who had the eyes of love, and knew what he was looking at, inherited everything the Father and Son had to offer.

May we go out from this Feast of the Ascension so confident of our spiritual inheritance to come, that we lavish its riches on all we meet right now. Because when it comes to Christ's kingdom, there's plenty for everyone.

© Richard Leonard SJ

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MISSION STATEMENT

We, the people of St Francis Xavier’s & St Clare’s parishes, seek to live Christ-centred lives, celebrating God’s presence & our faith values through worship, outreach, service, justice & hospitality.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

Pat Cleary
Breta Cohen
Ann-Marie Diggins
Jane D'Souza
Anthony Kennedy
Peter Leonard
John O'Brien
Annie Setiawan
Sr Moira Broderick CSB*
Dianna Hardy*
Carmel Purdey*
Monique Waring*
(* Ex-officio)

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