The sun after the ascension

1 The Sunday after the Ascension In the family room at home we have a lovely picture collage made up of pictures taken at our grandson Sebastian’s baptism. The image that always catches my eye is of Sebastian with a wonderful smile that conveys a radiance of love, innocence and joy.

As I look at that picture I see beyond the present world and get a glimpse of the heavenly realm. There is something about an infant that speaks to us of the divine.

Jesus did say that to such belongs the Kingdom of heaven.

For me, it is those glimpses of the divine that give me the encouragement to press on in the life and ministry God has given me.

Acts 1:9 (NRSV) 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

St Luke writes that Jesus after a period of 40 days was taken “up out of their sight” an event we describe as The Ascension and week by week we say in the words of the creed: “he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.”

But what does it mean to us as we go about our daily life.

Belief in the Ascension is a way of saying: I believe that there is much more to life than this present world; I believe that the Kingdom of God is both a present reality and a reality that is still yet to come.

The Benedictine Nun Joan Chittister in her book; “In Search of Belief”, writes: “Jesus came to be among us, the Creed sings. Jesus walked the earth and blessed it. Jesus lived the life of the living and grew in ‘wisdom, age and grace’ here.

But Jesus raised our eyes above and beyond the narrow limits of our paltry lives, (he) showed us other horizons, gives us a world beyond ourselves. In the end out of the dregs of the worst the world has to offer, the Creed (and these words – he ascended into heaven) lifts our eyes and our souls to the vision that transcends the pedestrian.

The Creed brings us face to face with the mystical and reminds us to abide there while we walk the streets of the world.”

Just before his Ascension we read of Jesus telling his disciples not to gaze into the heavens but that they should Matthew 28:19-20 (NRSV) 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

2

Contemporary social surveys all tell us that there is a very real spiritual hunger in the world.

As Christians we have the means to meet that hunger, but we have to be willing to go and tell the good news to those who are looking for meaning and purpose.

The Ascension reminds us of the bigger picture.

It reminds us of that which is to come: Revelation 21:1-4 (NRSV) 21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals.

He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.”

The Ascension reminds us of the Hope we have in Jesus Christ - the promise that we will be where He is!

The Ascension is one of those events in Jesus’ life that gives us courage to press on, no matter what the circumstances, because we have seen we are headed.

As we reflect on the Ascension We are not to stand gazing into the heavens pondering on the event: but as followers of Jesus Christ, we have work to do: Mark 16:15 (NRSV) 15 And Jesus said to them, as He says to us, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.