Religious Dimension

 This Week's Gospel -Luke 24:46-53

The Ascension

"Jesus withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven"

The Ascension of Jesus Christ is meaningful for several reasons as it signaled the end of His ministry on earth. God the Father had sent His Son into the world at Bethlehem and now the Son was returning to the Father. It also signified success of his work on earth and all that He had come to do and had accomplished. The Ascension marked the return of His heavenly glory and that eternal life was granted for us all.

This is where the work of the Holy Spirit begins as we see Jesus ascend into heaven and in return we receive our guardian, who is forever present amongst us particularly through this special week of Reconciliation.

Reconciliation Week - 27 May - 3 June  

What a wonderful way to start our week with students and staff praying and walking in unity throughout our local community just before the rain.  Our message sticks, flags and handheld templates in the colours red, black and yellow reminded us of how we need to embrace our diversity and respect all people and cultures around us.

 

The colour red is symbolic of the gift of our earth, particularly in Australia, whilst yellow represents our sun and black our indigenous friends who continue to work together with us for ongoing healing and reconciliation both past, present and for the future.

 

May 27 and June 3 are important dates in Australia’s history. May 27 marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum when Australians voted to remove clauses in the Australian Constitution that discriminated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  June 3  marks the historic 1992 Mabo decision in which the High Court of Australia  recognised native title—the recognition that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights over their lands did survive British colonisation.

 

 

During class this week, our students will expand on their learning about Reconciliation and Australia's history. Education is essential for our future leaders of our world. We can aim to look back without judgement, but with empathy and compassion so that all can be made new in Jesus' name.   

As part of our Liturgy today we shared this Gospel reading of Love.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of  truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.

But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.  On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

 

 

Melinda Buscema

Deputy and REL