The Ascension and Scouting

The first reading from the Ascension this past Thursday came from chapter one of the Acts of the Apostles. The apostles have just seen an incredible sight. Jesus has just gone up into the sky out of their sight. This is a pretty spectacular thing. There wasn't a helicopter or plane or glider. I think any of us would be so filled with awe at what we had just seen that we would probably be standing there for a few moments just looking up at the sky trying to comprehend what we have just seen. This trance is interupted by the two angels who in verse 11 call out to them: "why are you standing there looking up into the sky?"

In the account of the finding of the empty tomb in Luke's gospel, the angel greets the women with a similar question, "why do you seek the living among the dead?". If more of the conversation was recorded we may hear the angels use the line, "Why are you still here?". There is an urgency in the proclamation of the gospel, and this proclamation has been entrusted to all of us. We as Christians are called to make the Lord's love and presence known to all people. They are to meet the risen Christ in their interactions with us.

Scouting seeks to help youth to identify the leadership skills they possess and to build up others so that they will be responsible and productive citizens in our world. These skills are needed to build up the kingdom of God as well. These skills need to be put to use now. Scouts have the ability to bring the gospel to their peers and communities in ways that adults cannot. The Catholic Committee on Scouting attempts to assist scouts in applying what they learn in scouting to practical use in terms of faith. For this to work, scouts need to take the initiative and use the resources being made available to them. The committee does not do the work, it seeks to enable scouts to use the skills they have acquired and are learning.