This Sunday we have another opportunity to look at one of the very well known stories of the New Testament, the Ascension. This is when Jesus, post-resurrection, returned to the Father, to heaven, leaving this world behind. And, leaving his disciples behind.
There are several things we can take from the Ascension or at least there are several things we can talk about. We can remember that Jesus did us all a favour by leaving because his leaving opened up the way for the Holy Spirit in a new way. We can remember that even (presumably) celestial beings can ask really dumb questions.
The thing I ended up talking about is an aspect of the Ascension that had never struck me before. Several parishioners, spiritually acute and spiritually mature parishioners, told me afterward that they had never really thought of it this way either so I think I might have finally hit on something that is both new (or at least new-ish, new to me, etc.) and true.
The thing that struck me was the incredible exhibition of trust that is the Ascension. Jesus left the world, the world that he demonstrated his willingness to DIE for, in the hands of his disciples, in the hands of . . . us. Wow
Knox Presbyterian The Ascension
St. Mark’s Presbyterian The Ascension
By the way, there is a small bit in the middle of the St. Mark’s sermon that I considered editing out, it is me reacting to a siren which I thought we got instead of the usual summer Sunday Harley but then I thought, why should I? I think it adds to the verisimilitude of the whole experience. 🙂
Blessings,
I too have had this thought. It’s the basis for my conviction that God’s primary mission for us all is to choose. Make choices. There are no flashing signs everywhere. We must choose. The God of the entire universe has put choice in our hands. Crazy.