Sunday Reflections

What a joyful, hopeful month June is! In our communities, it is a month of celebrations. Parish picnics, class trips, graduations, Father’s Day. In southern Ontario, where I live, even creation seems to join in the celebration, as shrubs and flowers burst into bloom. I can almost hear them cry out: Alleluia! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

In our faith community we begin June this year by celebrating an event of awesome power: the Ascension of the Lord. Can you imagine being one of the apostles, witnessing this? I picture myself following Jesus to a place outside the city, near Bethany, as the gospel tells us. Even after three years with Jesus, even after witnessing his death and Resurrection, I am still unsure about the purpose of these things. What is it I am supposed to do? What is this kingdom of God on earth?  In the Acts of the Apostles today we hear the Apostles ask: Is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel? Clearly, they still don’t have a clue.

As I stand there, gazing up at the clouds where He disappeared, my mouth open, two men in white appear. “Why are you staring up at the sky?” they ask. In other words, don’t just stand there, do something. Get busy. There is work to be done, Good News to be proclaimed.

Those words seem to kick start the apostles into action, and they return to Jerusalem with great joy. From there, with the help of the Holy Spirit, they would go on to bear witness throughout Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

We too are called to be apostles and spread the Good News. We each do this in our own way, through our words but more importantly through our actions. This is a month to reflect on how the Holy Spirit is calling us to bring about God’s kingdom. Is it through our volunteer work: helping kids read, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick? Or our social justice work, advocating for the preservation of farmland, for fair wages or Indigenous justice? Maybe it is through our music or writing or art. Whatever it is, don’t keep it to yourself, share it with the world.

If you have trouble deciding, ask yourself: which one kindles that spark of joy? The Holy Spirit can ignite the spark but is up to us to fan the flames, to build a bonfire, to help shine the Light that will be seen throughout the world. So let’s roll up our sleeves and get busy. There is work to be done. The world needs our help.