VICAR'S LETTER

17 Sundon Road     
Streatley      

May, 2006      

Dear All   

May culminates in the Feast of the Ascension. Once this was an important Christian festival You got half a day off school. Of late, however, it has become increasingly neglected. This is a pity because it does have something very relevant to say.

Some 30 years ago, Dr. Jacob Bronowski wrote a book entitled, The Ascent of Man. It celebrated the human scientific and technological progress that had come about through harnessing the energies of coal, gas, electricity, oil, and nuclear fission. Its underlying message was, "Mankind has come of age. We no longer have any need of God. We can solve our problems for ourselves."

At the time Bronowski reflected the feelings of many. Today we might be a little less optimistic. In particular, we might be a bit more worried than he was about whether man has sufficient moral and spiritual maturity to handle the powers that science has placed at his disposal. It is a worry given concrete form in, for example, the tepid response, both of individuals and of nations, to the problem of global warming.

It is at this point that the continuing relevance of Jesus begins to emerge. He possessed great powers but he used them with spiritual and moral maturity. In doing so, he becomes a model of what we have to become in order to ensure that our powers become a blessing to the world and not a curse.

The Ascension can seem a very other-worldly event, but in putting before us Jesus as some-one to be looked up to, it addresses a very modern need.

All best wishes,

Roger

Back to top      Back to Vicar's Letters