The Chronicler May 2015 Spotsylvania, VA Give Thanks for the Ascension For forty days after the empty tomb was discovered there were appearances of the risen Lord Jesus to his disciples. On that fortieth day, he was taken up bodily into heaven in what has become known as the ascension. Ascension Day is celebrated on the fortieth day of Easter, which is always a Thursday. This year it is May 14. Ascension Day is one of the major feast days of the Church year. It is also one of the major events in Jesus’ life that we have recorded in the gospels. Others include his baptism, his transfiguration, his crucifixion, and his resurrection. We know about the details of the ascension mostly from the book of Acts in the first chapter. Jesus ascends into a cloud, and the disciples stand there in awe until two angels tell them that Jesus will return in the same way some day. For us, the ascension is the final act in the life, death, and new life of Jesus. That is, until he comes again. At his birth, an event known as the incarnation, God became human and came down from heaven to live among mortals. In the ascension, Jesus’ humanity is taken up into heaven, where he is seated at the right hand of God. These two events serve as the book ends, theologically speaking, of what Jesus did. He forged this connection between God and humanity, between heaven and earth, which cannot be broken. It is forever an open doorway through which we are called to walk. When Jesus tells us to follow him, this last trip into God’s kingdom is included. He goes ahead of us to prepare a place for us, and has promised to return and take us to himself. For me, there has always been a little sadness mixed in with the joy of celebrating Ascension Day. Yes, it means that Jesus has opened the door to heaven and provided us the way to get there. However, it also marks the end of Jesus’ time on earth. After that, there were no more resurrection appearances. Of course, it was only ten days later that the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost. Jesus’ presence with us now is a spiritual presence that we experience in Communion, or in other personal experiences. Maybe I’m a little like Thomas. I would have loved to have seen Jesus in his resurrected self. Not that I need that to believe, but wouldn’t it be cool?! We don’t have a special service here at Christ Church for the ascension. We will acknowledge it the Sunday following. Perhaps we should all make a point of pausing on Ascension Day to say a prayer of thanks for God’s gift of his Son, Jesus, and the doorway to heaven that he opened for us. THE MISSION OF CHRIST CHURCH is to bring all persons to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ through Word, Sacraments, and instruction, as taught through the Episcopal tradition, that all may know the joy and grace of faith, and to share that grace through outreach.
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The Chronicler May 2015 Spotsylvania, VA
Give Thanks for the Ascension For forty days after the empty tomb was discovered there were appearances of the risen
Lord Jesus to his disciples. On that fortieth day, he was taken up bodily into heaven in what has
become known as the ascension. Ascension Day is celebrated on the fortieth day of Easter,
which is always a Thursday. This year it is May 14.
Ascension Day is one of the major feast days of the Church year. It is also one of the
major events in Jesus’ life that we have recorded in the gospels. Others include his baptism, his
transfiguration, his crucifixion, and his resurrection. We know about the details of the ascension
mostly from the book of Acts in the first chapter. Jesus ascends into a cloud, and the disciples
stand there in awe until two angels tell them that Jesus will return in the same way some day.
For us, the ascension is the final act in the life, death, and new life of Jesus. That is, until
he comes again. At his birth, an event known as the incarnation, God became human and came
down from heaven to live among mortals. In the ascension, Jesus’ humanity is taken up into
heaven, where he is seated at the right hand of God. These two events serve as the book ends,
theologically speaking, of what Jesus did. He forged this connection between God and
humanity, between heaven and earth, which cannot be broken. It is forever an open doorway
through which we are called to walk. When Jesus tells us to follow him, this last trip into God’s
kingdom is included. He goes ahead of us to prepare a place for us, and has promised to return
and take us to himself.
For me, there has always been a little sadness mixed in with the joy of celebrating
Ascension Day. Yes, it means that Jesus has opened the door to heaven and provided us the way
to get there. However, it also marks the end of Jesus’ time on earth. After that, there were no
more resurrection appearances. Of course, it was only ten days later that the Holy Spirit was
poured out on Pentecost. Jesus’ presence with us now is a spiritual presence that we experience
in Communion, or in other personal experiences. Maybe I’m a little like Thomas. I would have
loved to have seen Jesus in his resurrected self. Not that I need that to believe, but wouldn’t it be
cool?!
We don’t have a special service here at Christ Church for the ascension. We will
acknowledge it the Sunday following. Perhaps we should all make a point of pausing on
Ascension Day to say a prayer of thanks for God’s gift of his Son, Jesus, and the doorway to
heaven that he opened for us.
THE MISSION OF CHRIST CHURCH is to bring all persons to the saving
knowledge of Jesus Christ through Word, Sacraments, and instruction, as taught through the Episcopal tradition, that all
may know the joy and grace of faith, and to share that grace through outreach.