Times have certainly changed over the years, but I still remember the days when on arriving at 21 years old a young man was given the keys of the house.

This symbolised the end of a journey from infancy to maturity, a journey punctuated by various rites of passage. We can all remember moving from short pants to long pants, to the first party etc. The giving of the keys was the end of one journey and the beginning of another.

The age of infancy was over, and the age of maturity beginning, an age at which the young man would be required to contribute to the upkeep of the home and in general to act in a mature and responsible manner.

I am certain that girls had their own rites of passage leading to the same conclusion, the age of maturity when they would be required to take care of the home. The handing over of the keys also symbolised our parents’ confidence in our ability to act responsibly.

It was the age at which the young man was supposed to manage his own affairs, even though we all knew that parents were in the background to help if the need arrived.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension, a feast that commemorates the disciples’ arrival at the stage of mature Christians. Just as the young man who arrived at the age of 21 and was given the keys of the house, so today we celebrate the reposing of Christ’s confidence in the disciples.

Jesus goes to take his seat at the Father’s right hand and leaves the responsibility of preaching the good news of the Kingdom in the hands of the apostles and disciples. The disciples are told, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”

Then just as a parent whose child has reached the age of maturity gives his/her child advice about how to interact with the world, Jesus instructs his disciples. He gives them some last advice before leaving them on their own. He tells them what they should expect as they go around preaching the good news of the Kingdom.

The disciples are told that their belief will ensure certain things as they interact with the world. People of faith will drive out the demons which affect our world, when others will not be able to do so. People of faith drive out the demons by the examples of their own lives, Demons like the demons of egoism and selfishness are driven away.

People of faith have the ability to present old truths in new ways, ways that are more understandable to people of our time. How often people say to priests, “Father, the way you explained that passage of scripture helped me to understand it in ways that I had never thought of.”

People of faith go into dangerous situations and come out unharmed. Jesus also promised to be with his disciples as they went about continuing his work here on earth. “But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.”

The Gospel reading for this Feast of the Ascension thus gives encouragement to the disciples as they take up the responsibility of continuing Jesus’ work of proclaiming the Gospel of the good news of the Kingdom.

The work of proclaiming the Kingdom continues to this day. We are the present-day disciples and like the disciples of the first century, we can count on Jesus’ continuing presence with us as we go about the work of proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. How else can we explain the success of Mother Teresa, or of Servol and other such organisations.

Today we thank God for people of faith who continue the work of Jesus in our world. We thank God for missionaries in dangerous situations who make the gospel of the Kingdom known and loved. We thank God for Christians who by the example of selfless giving drive out of others the demons of selfishness and egoism.

As we thank God for these examples we think of ourselves. Are we people of faith so that we may continue Jesus’ mission in our world today? Are we ready to take up the responsibility of continuing Jesus’ work today?

If we are, we can be certain that Jesus will not abandon us, and he will confirm the word which we preach with wondrous signs.

Prayer

All powerful and ever-loving God, we thank you for the confidence which you placed in the disciples of the first century as You sent them out to continue the work of your Son Jesus in the world.

We recognize that we – laity, priests and religious are the successors of your disciples and that You have chosen us to continue the work of your Son Jesus in the world of today. Be with us as we strive to be faithful.

Confirm the Word we proclaim with signs as You did long ago. When we are discouraged give us hope and remind us that You continue to be with us even as we struggle with opposition and lack of understanding, and help us to continue to proclaim the Gospel in every nook and cranny of the world.

We ask this in the name of Mary our Mother and your Son Jesus. Amen

Gospel Meditations for May are by Fr Joseph Harris, CSSp, a former parish priest and rector of the Regional Seminary. Fr Harris now works on the Archdiocesan Marriage Tribunal.