St Charles Church .org
This is a summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily delivered at St. Charles on May 23, 2004
"Men of Galilee, why do you stand there looking up at the sky?" Acts 1:10
IN OUR CHILDHOOD there were those moments of trust when we grew.
One such hour comes to my mind when I was eleven. As a youngster, I loved to spend the summertime with my favorite uncle, Willie. We had spent the day in the bog at Monalea, saving turf. All the other workers had gone home. Willie had two problems; a horse and a motor car. His house was three miles away at the foot of the mountain. He hit on a plan. He would drive the car and I would ride the horse. It did not matter that I had never ridden a horse before. He lifted me on to the bare back of the colt, got into the car and drove off! Descending the mountain was easy. When the horse came to the flat road at the foothill he decided to trot. My heart was in my mouth as I clung to his mane. In answer to prayer he slowed to a saunter. When I arrived home I had no feelings of anger at my uncle for abandoning me. Instead I thought I had grown a few inches because he had believed in me.
The disciples at the mountaintop had a similar awakening. They were gazing up at the sky as Jesus ascended to the Father. Angels had to come and tap them on the shoulder to ask, "Why are you standing there looking at the sky?" They were clinging on to him as did Mary in the garden. "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and to the ends of the earth". Had not Jesus already promised that they would do far greater things than he when the advocate arrived? Jesus trusted his disciples.
As a church we can do no less. The spirit endows every believer through baptism, confirmation as well as ordination with charisms and gifts
Yet there is a tendency for us to imitate the disciples on the mountain. We cling on to Him or we prefer to pass off our responsibility to the clergy. Some priests are happy to have the power handed back as well. Is there not a trace of nervousness about the distinctions we make between clergy and laity? Eucharistic Ministers must be reminded that they are "extraordinary," just in case they get any idea...
Parents know how hard it is to trust. A mother's love often takes the form of protection. Consider the moments of panic at he thought of seniors graduating and going off on their own to college. However parents know that it is only in risk comes growth.
The church, Mater Ecclesia, is at her best when she trusts the Spirit and realizes her work not only in their own offices but in the gifts and conscience of all God's empowered people.