Fr. John Ryan

 

ASCENSION

20th May 2007

"Faith comes from hearing". The beginning point of faith from the human perspective is hearing. If someone does not hear about God, then faith cannot come into play. There is no basis for it. Faith needs communication and today, the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, designated as World Communications Day, we are asked to reflect on the need for communication and the means of communication at our disposal and how we use the gift of communication. Usually this day focuses on the media and the role played by them in the transmission of information and the responsibility they have to provide informed, objective news.
However, it is important for us to look at the more basic methods of communication as well. Being, as Aristotle says, social animals, we are by nature communicative -we interact with others all the time and thus communication is necessary for society, at all levels to function and work. In any relationship, no matter how deep or superficial it may be, there is a need for us to communicate. One needs to speak and the other needs to listen. Proper communication requires that at least. In any conversation as well as the spoken word the silence of the listener is needed in order for progress in discussion is made. If we all spoke at the same time all we would achieve is the multiplication of sound and no communication is made at all.
With regard to our spiritual lives, faith comes from hearing, we must hear about God. We must hear about Jesus Christ before we can respond in any shape or form. To believe in God implies that we have heard something about him, it has resonated with our experiences and we react with a positive statement of belief. As community we need to speak about Jesus and share our experiences of faith so that the message of the Gospel continues to be communicated to the world.
To speak of the Gospel, to talk about Jesus and discuss our faith are important elements of the mission to witness that we have all received in Baptism. As I have said in all three churches of the parish over the last two weeks, if we feel that the Catholic heritage we share is important and should be passed on to the next generations then we must all become speakers of the Word so that the next generations will hear it and respond in faith to what Christ has to offer the world. Jesus commissioned the apostles to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last. We to have that very same commission given to us - we must go out and bear fruit by witnessing in word and deed.
Faith comes by hearing - but of course that implies that someone is speaking. Let each one of us be speakers for Christ.