Deacon Greg 5-24-20
Ascension 2020
Greetings Again Church… I just love this particular Sunday!
When I was a kid, going to Church at Holy Spirit in Huntsville, I distinctly remember going to Mass on the Ascension, and sticking around until after the closing hymn. I remember hearing the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles and being struck by the imagery of Jesus being taken up into the clouds. So when the volunteer assigned with the task of putting everything away after Mass, extinguished the Easter Candle, I just watch the smoke from the smoldering wick rise from the candle. It was lit from the spotlight above, and it just slowly hovered and gently rose until it was out of sight. My way of thinking was simple and straightforward. I had been told that the Easter Candle was the light of Christ, and in that moment, that light was extinguished. I just remember looking up at it, thinking WOW. Where is he going?
With that said, it’s understandable that I would begin today, stating that this could very well be my favorite moment in Scripture: “As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?”
For me, in that personal moment all those years ago, the “Two Men in White” were probably my brother and sister saying, “Come on, Dad says let’s go!”
__________
During these past few months, more of us have become in tuned with the progression of just how the daily Mass readings describe our journey of faith from Sunday to Sunday. Since last Sunday, Jesus has been reassuring us that not only he would be going to the Father, but that this is all part of the necessary plan to make his Church - THIS CHURCH - a reality.
Last Sunday, Jesus tells us in John’s Gospel, “In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live.”
This past week, John (Ch. 16) continues its witness of Jesus’ reassurance:
“In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.”
Why is all of this pertinent? YOU are Theophilus. You are that person beloved by God who has been called to learn the “The Way.” The Gospel, my friends, was written for YOU, so that you might believe!
Luke resets things for us as he continues: “[Jesus] presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit,” which we will all celebrate next weekend during the Feast of Pentecost!
Which brings us back to the scene of the disciples looking up at the now seemingly empty sky. We too have looked up and around, and have wondered the same thing many times in our lives… “Where is he and when will he return… And for that matter, why did he leave in the first place? Things would have been much better if he had just stayed and ruled his kingdom here on earth!”
Well, Theophilus, remember this: Christ is in the Father, and the Father is in him, and we, empowered by the Holy Spirit, are forever with them, connected and called to build a home and make it our own testament to the love of God, who will come back again to “take us to himself, so that where he is, we also will be,” (John 14: 3)
But in the meantime, much beloved friends in Christ, we need to establish “The Way” for others, and make this journey our own, dedicating our “house” to be part of the House of the Lord.
Remember, you are not alone, but you are called to make this life unique and personal, as it is through the sharing of those gifts that we are called to BE CHURCH NOW, and make a difference!
Greetings Again Church… I just love this particular Sunday!
When I was a kid, going to Church at Holy Spirit in Huntsville, I distinctly remember going to Mass on the Ascension, and sticking around until after the closing hymn. I remember hearing the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles and being struck by the imagery of Jesus being taken up into the clouds. So when the volunteer assigned with the task of putting everything away after Mass, extinguished the Easter Candle, I just watch the smoke from the smoldering wick rise from the candle. It was lit from the spotlight above, and it just slowly hovered and gently rose until it was out of sight. My way of thinking was simple and straightforward. I had been told that the Easter Candle was the light of Christ, and in that moment, that light was extinguished. I just remember looking up at it, thinking WOW. Where is he going?
With that said, it’s understandable that I would begin today, stating that this could very well be my favorite moment in Scripture: “As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?”
For me, in that personal moment all those years ago, the “Two Men in White” were probably my brother and sister saying, “Come on, Dad says let’s go!”
__________
During these past few months, more of us have become in tuned with the progression of just how the daily Mass readings describe our journey of faith from Sunday to Sunday. Since last Sunday, Jesus has been reassuring us that not only he would be going to the Father, but that this is all part of the necessary plan to make his Church - THIS CHURCH - a reality.
Last Sunday, Jesus tells us in John’s Gospel, “In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live.”
This past week, John (Ch. 16) continues its witness of Jesus’ reassurance:
- “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me… I have told you this so that you may not fall away.”
- “But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go.”
- “But when he [the Advocate] comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.”
- “A little while and you will no longer see me…"
- “But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”
“In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.”
Why is all of this pertinent? YOU are Theophilus. You are that person beloved by God who has been called to learn the “The Way.” The Gospel, my friends, was written for YOU, so that you might believe!
Luke resets things for us as he continues: “[Jesus] presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit,” which we will all celebrate next weekend during the Feast of Pentecost!
Which brings us back to the scene of the disciples looking up at the now seemingly empty sky. We too have looked up and around, and have wondered the same thing many times in our lives… “Where is he and when will he return… And for that matter, why did he leave in the first place? Things would have been much better if he had just stayed and ruled his kingdom here on earth!”
Well, Theophilus, remember this: Christ is in the Father, and the Father is in him, and we, empowered by the Holy Spirit, are forever with them, connected and called to build a home and make it our own testament to the love of God, who will come back again to “take us to himself, so that where he is, we also will be,” (John 14: 3)
But in the meantime, much beloved friends in Christ, we need to establish “The Way” for others, and make this journey our own, dedicating our “house” to be part of the House of the Lord.
Remember, you are not alone, but you are called to make this life unique and personal, as it is through the sharing of those gifts that we are called to BE CHURCH NOW, and make a difference!
Comments
Post a Comment