Tomorrow (May 21) is Ascension Day. Forty days after Easter, Jesus ascended into heaven, to be seated at the right hand of the Father.
Here's the appointed Gospel reading for the day, from Luke 24:44-53
44[Jesus said to the eleven and those with them,] “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.”45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
50Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
The ascension is not quite a happy day for the disciples. Here they are, having gone through the emotional whiplash of Jesus' arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection, and now he's leaving again - this time for good. I imagine they don't quite feel ready. Not ready to grieve all over again, not ready to figure out life in the "new normal", not ready to continue Jesus' ministry in his absence. Not ready, but it doesn't matter. Jesus leaves anyway.
Here's the appointed Gospel reading for the day, from Luke 24:44-53
44[Jesus said to the eleven and those with them,] “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.”45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
50Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
The ascension is not quite a happy day for the disciples. Here they are, having gone through the emotional whiplash of Jesus' arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection, and now he's leaving again - this time for good. I imagine they don't quite feel ready. Not ready to grieve all over again, not ready to figure out life in the "new normal", not ready to continue Jesus' ministry in his absence. Not ready, but it doesn't matter. Jesus leaves anyway.
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| "Ascension", by Rebekah Krevens |
I love this image of a candle, flame extinguished and smoke rising. It reminds me of a script from the baptism story in the Montessori-inspired faith formation program called Godly Play. Here's what the leader says, at the very end:
"Now let me show you something. Let's change the light. No. I did not say we were going to put it out or extinguish it. Watch. I will show you mine first.
Do you see how all the light is right here in the flame? It is easy to see then. Now watch. It changes.
See? The light is still spreading out. It is filling up the room. Just because you can't see it anymore doesn't mean that it is gone. Anywhere you go in the room today, there it will be. Our room will be full of invisible light."
Isn't that a beautiful image for the ascension? What a grace-filled reminder for the disciples, and for us. The ascension of Jesus doesn't mean that he's gone - not really. Instead, the light of the world is changing.
"Now let me show you something. Let's change the light. No. I did not say we were going to put it out or extinguish it. Watch. I will show you mine first.
Do you see how all the light is right here in the flame? It is easy to see then. Now watch. It changes.
See? The light is still spreading out. It is filling up the room. Just because you can't see it anymore doesn't mean that it is gone. Anywhere you go in the room today, there it will be. Our room will be full of invisible light."
Isn't that a beautiful image for the ascension? What a grace-filled reminder for the disciples, and for us. The ascension of Jesus doesn't mean that he's gone - not really. Instead, the light of the world is changing.
That which was visible becomes invisible in body, and yet is still present. Jesus is still present. His love and grace are still spreading out across the world, empowered by the Holy Spirit and made visible in the works of those who love him. His body and blood are invisible but present in the bread and wine we receive at the Communion table. Anywhere you go in the world today, there Jesus will be.
That's the promise - Jesus is with us always! With us even when we can't see him in the ways we expect, with us when our church building is closed, with us when we feel abandoned and alone, with us when we grieve, with us when we rejoice.
Perhaps you might light your own candle, and then gently blow it out. Say a prayer as you watch the light change and disperse. Give thanks for the God who is invisible and yet present. Pray that this presence might strengthen and comfort you today.
That's the promise - Jesus is with us always! With us even when we can't see him in the ways we expect, with us when our church building is closed, with us when we feel abandoned and alone, with us when we grieve, with us when we rejoice.
Perhaps you might light your own candle, and then gently blow it out. Say a prayer as you watch the light change and disperse. Give thanks for the God who is invisible and yet present. Pray that this presence might strengthen and comfort you today.
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