The feast of the Ascension will commence tomorrow, signifying the start of the concluding week in the Easter Season. The subsequent Sunday ushers in Pentecost, concluding the grand narrative that celebrates our faith in the crucifixion, demise and rebirth of Jesus Christ. Pentecost symbolises the revelation of God’s presence worldwide, whereas the immediate succeeding Sunday celebrates the feast of the Blessed Trinity. Each one serves as a reminder of our salvation history.
Explaining anything pertaining to God and His mystery involves complex language and diverse interpretations of our words. It’s all too simple to form our own vision of God and find sheer comfort in it. Yet, isn’t this emblematic of idolatry?
David Jenkins served as the bishop of Durham for the Church of England from 1984 to 1994 and, in those years, attracted a host of controversies surrounding his beliefs. In the infancy of video camera technology, he purportedly stated his doubts about being able to capture Jesus’s ascension penetrating the clouds if he had had a video camera available. Such a claim naturally sparked widespread discussion. “I aim to stimulate conversations about religion in pubs,” he added.
Innumerable individuals feel a disconnect from established religions and are thus embarking on their unique quest to discover God. It’s equally understood that our declaration of faith appears clichéd, which could be the very cliché that numerous people reject.
Visible divides are spreading worldwide, Ireland included, and can also be seen in churches and among their clergy. Last weekend, I presided over an matrimonial ceremony in Donegal. While we may expect nothing, it was noticeable that the majority of the congregation at the Inishowen Peninsula church are rarely seen within a church unless it’s a prominent ceremony.
Post our wedding service, we engaged in some insightful conversations. The conversations revolved around quotes from the Mass readings such as “you are blessed”, “delight in the truth”, and “That we may be one and the world will realise it”. I inferred that they were unfamiliar with these biblical references. Could the Irish Catholic Church have strayed from its path, deafened and obscured by the allure of wealth and authority?
This year marks the 800th anniversary of my Dominican Order in Ireland. I’d favour a discourse about our future ambition rather than reminiscing about our past deeds. What surprises me is how the ills committed by us have been conveniently overlooked. I continue to sense an attempt by the church to sustain antiquated customs and systems. Admittedly as clergymen, we communicate with the public and even converse with the recent converts to Christianity who are eager about everything that is reminiscent of an old-fashioned church. While nostalgia has its charm, it should not outweigh current challenges.
St Dominic who founded the Dominicans, advocated for the gospel to be shared in a manner that resonated with the contemporary masses. This very same principle is pertinent today. Curiously, at the wedding in Donegal, I found myself relating more to the congregation than many elements of the established church. Notwithstanding, matters are seldom as straightforward as they seem. The upcoming feast is no exception, yet it somewhat magically guides us towards the Creator of all.