This Sunday’s Gospel reading shows us that walking in the footsteps of Jesus is not something to dabble in, as we might dabble in yoga or pilates or line-dancing, reflects Christian Brother Julian McDonald. We often say that we are committed to doing this, that or the other, and we are sincere in describing to others what it is to which we are committing ourselves. Sincere we are, but we’re not serious.

Whenever I reflect on and write about Eucharist, I recall the words which St Augustine recommended the priests of his time to say to everyone coming to them for communion, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald. As they held the sacred host to each communicant, he urged them to say: “Behold who you are, become what you receive!” In other words, he wanted everyone coming to communion to hear that they are the Body of Christ and meant to become bread broken and given for the material and spiritual nourishment of the world.

Pentecost proclaims that the Spirit of God has been let loose among us, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald. But we will not tap into that Spirit if we persist in trying to generate all the power and control ourselves. Can we allow the breath of God’s Spirit to blow in and through us?

Ultimately, the event of Jesus’ ascension is about transition and change, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald. Jesus had spent his life showing us that God’s love for us and our world is limitless and unconditional. He commissioned all who would be his disciples to reflect God’s love to everyone we encounter. To do that, we have to be ever open to growth, to change, to transition as we adapt to meet the ever-changing people we encounter.

Jesus called his commandment to love new simply because loving one another, even enemies, was not a priority for the people of his era, and has not been for our world over the last two thousand years, reflects Christian Brother Julian McDonald. The way of non-violence, of compassion, reconciliation, forgiveness and love is new, simply because we have been unable to embrace it. At a time when world leaders have at their disposal technology and weaponry sufficiently powerful to obliterate us all, the need to imitate the love of Christ is more urgent than ever. Accepting Jesus’ new commandment will come at a price, and will certainly be countercultural.