Editorial - Earthquakes are the topic
30.04.2010
Two key events of the Christian religion - the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost are accompanied by physical signs - a violent earthquake in St Matthew’s Gospel and a strong driving wind in the Acts of the Apostles.
These natural events point to mighty acts of God; they challenge us to go beyond what we know from experience to what God reveals to us in a faith experience.
People had and still have different interpretations of the Resurrection and Pentecost. In one instance people said the body of Jesus was stolen by his disciples who pretended Jesus was still alive. People also commented that those disciples filled with the Holy Spirit were actually drunk though it was still early.
In a past age of faith there were always unbelievers who had to keep their heads down because unbelief was not the prevailing attitude. In our secular age, the atheist and agnostic publicly proclaim their unbelief with confidence and we Christian believers tend to be on the back foot. It is not our time.
But this American spiritual is true for any place or time, “Though none go with me, yet I will follow, no turning back, no turning back.” It is a wonderful gift, a great privilege, the greatest treasure to have God in our hearts regardless of the times and seasons of our lives.
Fr Gary Walker
TFE@columban.org.au
Click here to read other editorials written by Fr Gary Walker
