Bits of the Gospel

I have officially removed the post on Cottolengo Centre, Nairobi which has been on this blog for many months attracting many readers. I believe the activity of Cottolengo followers in Kenya is still relevant and very much up to date. I believe the upgrading of activities and the reviewing of mission, vision and objectives of the centre have made the services more humane, more familiar, and even more relevant for the youth and children who benefit from the centre. Meanwhile, the reader may wish to find out more on Cottolengo centre, Nairobi, and other Cottolengo centre in Africa on the Blog The Cottolengo Family, Africa. There you find many articles, photos and other relevant posts concerning this noble activity.

I posted a reflection on the feast of Ascension last year and that post has attracted attention of many visitors to my Blog. This year I want to add a little more of that on this particular feast. The apostle says: “If you have risen with Christ, set your hearts on the things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God; seek the things that are above, not the things that are on earth. For just as he remained with us even after his ascension, so we too are already in heaven with him, even though what is promised us has not yet been fulfilled in our bodies." "The things above..." In the Eastern rites the feast of Ascension was known as analepsis, the taking up (...above), and also as the episozomene, the salvation, denoting that by ascending into His glory Christ completed the work of our redemption. Taking up and redeeming. These two verbs remind us of two gestures that Jesus did during his ministry. He “held up”, helped up many. He saved many from

Vocati ons Vocation, according to popular definition is the seed of the Word of God in the human heart which directs him to a certain way of life. It is, therefore, personal because it is found in the heart, a specific heart. It is at the same time profoundly social, because it is not meant for purely personal gains but above all for a community.Vocation must also be understood as sacred or divine wherein the divine touch is involved in the planting of that "seed" and in the response to that call within. Now, another definition of a vocation is a call. This seems to be part of the previous definition. I tend to value this kind of understanding because it insists on the human dimension of "being addressed", being in relationship with fellow human beings and with God. That relationship symbolised by a call is a two way affair. Now, man calls upon God in prayer in which case he requests, prays for his needs. On the other hand, God calls man to enter into a deeper rel