Learn more about The Feast of The Ascension

  I'm struck by a couple of things on Ascension Day. First, it surprises me that the disciples worship Jesus as he ascends into the heavens. I personally would not rejoice. I would be sad. I'm not great at goodbyes. I don't know many people who are. The disciples somehow comprehend that Jesus' departure in tandem with the pending arrival of The Holy Spirit's is a reverential, beautiful moment. The Feast of The Ascension isn't so much a goodbye as it is a transition of abiding in God's Love and participating in God's work in new, Christ-empowered ways.

Second, Jesus returns to his teaching ministry prior to his ascension and before The Holy Spirit's appearance. He re-connects in sharing the truth of God's Living Word and Abiding Love with them. Then he beckons his followers to abide with one another just as he has resided with them through life, death, and resurrection. This was a key idea for the disciples to learn and it seems important for us too. God is constantly interacting with us.

Salvador Dali - The Ascension of Christ

  Ascension Day isn't so much a "Good Bye" as it is a movement with Jesus Christ toward a new place of being. God, I think, understands better than we do, that God can't (or won't) proclaim the beauty and truth of Christ's Gospel without our involvement. We now have the Holy Spirit within us and around us to share Jesus' love. We have Jesus' Living Words and example to provoke us. We are not tragically orphaned or alone without God. Here in this city - in community with one another we are entrusted with Christ's power. Just as the disciples in Jerusalem, we are witnesses to Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension. Now it's up to us to continue the work the disciples began 40 days after Easter, thousands of years ago.