Ascension of the Lord

Matthew 28: 16 – 19

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorised and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you”.

A few months ago I started looking for a box of birthday cards and ended up cleaning out my entire desk. It took me the better part of a day and I had a bag of rubbish and a collection of keepsake letters to show for my work. One of the letters I found that day was from my great aunt, Josephine McNally, the youngest sister of my maternal grandfather. Aunt Josie was a career woman who worked for the Navy in Victoria, and retired to the south coast of New South Wales. Josie was maybe 5 feet tall with blue eyes that twinkled behind rimless glasses. She was a letter writer, the family archivist, and generous to a fault.

The letter I found that day was dated February 1, 1976. It read in part:

“When I see young nuns in short dresses and nothing to show for their vocations, it saddens me, but I do not condemn or criticise. Only the young people can carry on the work of the church and if changes are in order, I will change with them … I know basically their faith is probably greater than mine”.

I had just begun my ministry in a new parish when I read that letter. I recognised her words for what they were – a mission statement from God’s Holy Spirit written in Aunt Jo’s hand: Go do the work to which you are called. In these difficult days, when many unfamiliar changes have been forced upon us, we know the work and the church go on with our help. God’s Holy Spirit remains with us. Trust that.