09/05/2024

Ascension Day 2024 (in Saskatoon, Canada)

“Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation.”

The good news” (or “gospel” = “good spiel”) is a literal translation of the Greek word euangelion. – glad tidings. Is defined as the Kingdom of God is here.

As kingdom is a state and God is love in practice is means the state of love – God’s love is all around - and if we accept it – it is there in our own heart.

In practice it means we are ‘saved’, freed from sin, from our brokenness, and estrangement from God.

Fredrick Nietzsche - no friend of our Faith - joked and challenged us with his, “I might believe in the Redeemer if his followers looked – and I would add – behaved more redeemed.”

A redeemed person is life-enhancing to all who meet him or her: optimistic, patient, cheerful, a good neighbour, friendly to all. A joy to be with.

Our actions proclaim our embracing of The Good News. Occasionally we fail. As I remind penitents in the confessional, “falling down is not as important as getting up.” So on we go; learning from our failures to be more merciful – and this more Christlike – with the failings

of others.

“All creation” means we are invited to love everyone - beyond any barriers of race, nation, gender – political persuasion, even - and age.

Good to admit we have tendency of eschewing certain folk – maybe due to their appearance, accents – or political views. I admit there are people who I find hard to like – but try to respect and appreciate, and help, if I can.