“When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen.”
Those are wise words of wisdom from that anthropomorphic bear called Winnie the Pooh. Don’t those words summarize exactly what Jesus calls his disciples to? Jesus tells them/us. You will:
• drive out demons
• speak new languages
• pick up serpents
• not be harmed by poisons
• lay hands on the sick
• PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL to every creature in the whole world..
In other words – “It is time to put the big boots on…” I have led you every step of the way. Now I leave you so that you can go on that adventure called discipleship. So are there any other sayings of Winnie the Pooh that can teach us about the life of discipleship? Let me suggest three.
Lesson #1: “You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” Jesus begins his instructions to the disciples in just that way: GO OUT TO ALL THE NATIONS… If there is a challenge that Jesus might level against us, here at St. Ann, it would be this. We are EXCEPTIONALLY good at caring for our own, helping folks in hard times, reaching out to those in need. But, we are not so good at inviting others to become Catholic. To walk with us the road of faith. In the past 5 years, we have invited exactly 2 adults to join our faith in Baptism. It is hard, I know. I face that temptation every time I head to the Newman Center and don’t make it over to campus. Sure, take care of the students who come to the center – and that is important. But what of those who never cross that great divide called Natural Bridge road? What of those who have never come to St. Ann church? We see them at Bermuda pool, at neighborhood gatherings, at Sprenke’s and fish fries and the like. Do we take the risk to invite them to join us in the practice of the faith? We still have some “Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic” books. Take one and give it to a neighbor… it could be a great starting point.
Lesson #2: “I don’t feel very much like Pooh today,” said Pooh. “There there,” said Piglet. “I’ll bring you tea and honey until you do.” This is another way to say: practice kindness! We have enough knuckleheads, imbeciles, megalomaniacs, jerks and idiots. We have more than enough cruel people, heartless people, greedy people, careless people, thoughtless people, inconsiderate people, apathetic people. Our world needs more people of kindness. We need people who are willing to bring others tea and honey. Never overlook an opportunity to be kind.
Lesson #3: “You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” Because you are a child of God, because you are part of the Body of Christ, because you are a member of the Church, the People of God, you have a dignity, you have a nobility, you have a power beyond your wildest imaginings. Mark’s gospel tells us: “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” That Spirit has already been given to each of us in Confirmation. That power is ours to call upon, in both the profound and the simple moments. Most of the time it will look like the decision to:
• reverently mention the name of Jesus in my conversation?
• pray grace in a restaurant before I eat my burger and fries?
• makes the decision to attend the confirmation class instead of last minute practice for the city-county playoff?
Sometimes, it will look like posting on our facebook pages about the wrongness of the death penalty even if, like the Boston Marathon Bomber, the nation thinks it is justified. Other times it will be that choice to stop the gossip around the workplace lunch room. YOU are indeed braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
This feast of the Ascension reminds us that it is time to put on our Big Boots. And in the immortal words of Winnie the Pooh, “I am pretty sure an Adventure is about to happen.”