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In the spiritual life we cannot always see the path ahead, but God is always near

It is a cause for joy - and a privilege - to be able to walk along the path which Jesus took, hand-in-hand with our Risen Lord.

We should trust in God's love from one day to the next. There are people who are not content to walk the safe, narrow way marked out by Jesus Christ for all who would follow Him to Heaven. Some people insist on making extraordinary efforts to try to see the way ahead, or foretell the future, or to find a different path to Heaven - as if trying to climb a ladder, to reach above the cloud which represents the limitations of our human existence and knowledge.

At the Ascension Christ, our brother, returned to the Father in triumph and opened a pathway to Heaven for us

At the Ascension Christ, our brother, returned to the Father in triumph and opened a pathway to Heaven for us

At the Ascension Christ, our brother, returned to the Father in triumph and opened a pathway to Heaven for us

When anyone determinedly steps out to serve God, he or she is led on a firm path. The way is clear, but it's as if a burning lake lies at one side, so great care is necessary. One foolish step - such as pride - would mean disaster. The person who stays close to the wall (to Christ) will arrive safely into His arms, in Heaven.

When anyone determinedly steps out to serve God, he or she is led on a firm path. The way is clear, but it's as if a burning lake lies at one side, so great care is necessary. One foolish step - such as pride - would mean disaster. The person who stays close to the wall (to Christ) will arrive safely into His arms, in Heaven.

To live on earth in blissful union with God is to live as if at the edge of the Heavenly City, on the mountain-top, far above the dark path below.

To live on earth in blissful union with God is to live as if at the edge of the Heavenly City, on the mountain-top, far above the dark path below.

To live on earth in blissful union with God is to live as if at the edge of the Heavenly City, on the mountain-top, far above the dark path below.

If someone remains united to Christ, on the pathway to death, Christ guides that soul on the narrow way, leading her by the hand into the Fire of the Godhead in safety. The 'safest' way of walking is to have no trailing sins, like flapping garments, which can catch fire.

It seems to some people that the pathways they personally carve in the rocky walls of their lives can lead to God. Though we can admire the little gems of 'insight' they find embedded in the walls, we have been shown by God that Christ's Way is the only true way to Heaven. He who came from Heaven to earth knows the Way back; and we must help other people to find it.

It seems to some people that the pathways they personally carve in the rocky walls of their lives can lead to God. Though we can admire the little gems of 'insight' they find embedded in the walls, we have been shown by God that Christ's Way is the only true way to Heaven. He who came from Heaven to earth knows the Way back; and we must help other people to find it.

Our progress towards Heaven can be like a sales graph. We have done well if we have moved steadily upwards, despite occasional stumbles on the path, and have never turned back since first giving our life and heart to Christ.

Of all the paths which people tell us lead to God, only one does so. There is no way 'up' to God except through Christ and His life of grace. Other short paths are made by human beings who search for truth. We can admire their sincerity and good desires but not their main conclusions if they take us away from Christ.

We fail in our duty if we never warn others of the consequences of serious sin and irreverence. It's as if we were to walk past people who are trapped in a swamp because they did not take the right path. They are in danger, even if they imagine all is well.

We are all on a journey, past great swamps and quicksands. It is not loving to say nothing when we see people set out on a dangerous path instead of the safe one: hence the importance of honest ecumenism, of good catechesis, and evangelisation.

Christ saw, from the Cross, a crowd of onlookers: the puzzled, the curious, the hostile and the sympathetic. So it is as we today suffer in union with Christ. We cannot control the attitude of others. What counts is to be obedient to the Will of God.

Christ saw, from the Cross, a crowd of onlookers: the puzzled, the curious, the hostile and the sympathetic. So it is as we today suffer in union with Christ. We cannot control the attitude of others. What counts is to be obedient to the Will of God.