Why Was Jesus' Ascension into Heaven so Joyful?

Have you ever noticed that unlike the death of a parent, the last day as president of a beloved politician, or the retirement of a favorite celebrity or sports star, the Ascension of Jesus into heaven prompted an entirely different reaction.

We look at the beloved disciples who were present, and we see none of this bittersweet feelings of celebration of the past amidst the morning of the loss!

No!

The gospel of Luke tells us that as Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples worshiped him, then returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

There is excitement and anticipation for what's happening! Why? Three reasons.

First, the disciples knew exactly what to do. During 3 years of ministry with them, Jesus had shown them everything they needed to do and they were confident they could do it.

Second, Jesus did not leave his disciples alone. Time and time again he told of the Holy Spirit's arrival, and the disciples knew it would happen soon, which it did.

And finally, Jesus promised he would return. Just as he had miraculously fed, healed, and risen from the dead, his promise to one day reunite, gave them confidence to live and die for the faith.

It is now the eve of my departure from St. David's for a 3-month sabbatical. I will be gone from June 1 to September 1. No, it's not like Jesus is leaving you. But I would like to challenge us to take this time of leave as a way to draw closer to Christ. God has a lot planned for St. David's - there is much work to do.

First, let this be a time to trust in Jesus' guidance. We find this in his Word, the lives of the Saints, and our church community. Your wardens are well-equipped for what's ahead. Let's thank God for their devotion and care. We will be well cared-for.

Second, let us make time for the Holy Spirit, God is not going on sabbatical. God is present to help us grow during this time. Let us invite the Spirit in through prayer and meditation. The Spirit is the one who is with us to comfort, guide, and empower us. We are not alone, but have that little light of direction shining in our souls.

Finally, let us trust in Jesus' return. Just as he has been present for us, to provide, protect, and give purpose, having faith that we will be reunited can bring us through more difficulties than we may know. This is not all there is, We have eternity with God and our loved ones awaiting. I look forward to being with you come fall and know that we will be kept in God's loving hands.

So let us consider not only how reunions bring great joy, but the ways that departures can as well.

Goodbye Training Wheels

It is like the moment you let go of the bike and see your little one cycling on their own, witnessing a whole new world of mobility opening an even bigger window into exploration and possibility!

In the Christian story this did not happen at Creation, the Incarnation, or even the Resurrection as profoundly as it does on Thursday, Ascension Thursday - 40 days after the Resurrection, when Christ ascends to heaven, essentially taking his hands off the bike, and giving us new mobility that opens up bigger windows for exploration and possibility.

Ascension Day is a day of responsibility and ownership. No longer can we call upon our leader in the same way and for the same things.

Now it's up to us.

Our partnership with God in the ongoing repair of the world takes on a new dimension as Christ ascends to the Father's right hand, not a geographical place but an authoritative one.

And that authority, which will come to us writ large in 10 days time with the drama of Pentecost, is what we need now more than ever to face the problematic landscape before us.

For we have been given moral authority for clarity and power to stand against injustice and oppression. We need to speak up for the immigrant, impoverished, and marginalized.

Ascension Day means that we no longer have for the excuse that it's God's problem, that thoughts and prayers are enough, no!

We have been given all we need to do what Christ calls us to do.

Let's get on the bike, embrace the journey, confident that the one who taught us how to ride knew what he was doing.

Who Should Go First?

Once I was waiting in a grocery store line, chatting with the elderly woman in front of me who had a walker.

The line got long, and another clerk opened another cash register.

But instead of inviting the elderly woman in front of me to be next, she allowed the fastest, more able, and certainly less deserving people behind her to go.

I felt badly for the woman, who not only had been waiting a while, but whose frailty and advanced years surely should have put her first.

So, yes, the Episcopal church is making headlines because its immigrant resettlement organization is refusing to resettle white Afrikaners.

It's not because they haven't been in line, it's because others have been there first who have demonstrated much greater need.

What about the Afghan allies, persecuted religious minorities, and other populations facing extreme, life-threatening poverty, famine, and persecution, who have already been fully vetted and in line for years?

This Sunday our church will baptize a little baby and together we will recite our baptismal covenant, which reminds us to respect the dignity of every human being.

Of course it's difficult to determine which refugee is more needy than another, but it can, should, and is done,

So that the needs of those deemed most deserving should, in fact, go first.

And we should not be shy about making the case and taking action.

How to Change Your Mind

Following the election of President Biden in 2020, someone came up with the theory that the election had been rigged and President Trump had actually won.

People who believed these things refused to change their minds even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The problem was not the evidence - it was that people did not want to believe it.

This was at play 2,000 years ago when those whom Jesus came to redeem refused to believe him.

Not because the evidence was lacking, but because they just did not want to change their minds.

In a world filled with hoaxes, scams, and disinformation, how are we to make sense of things and make sure we're driving in the 'truth' lane?

We have to consider three things - 1) We're biased. Can we admit that when we look at anything, by definition, we look through a particular lens that is not all-encompassing? 2) Humility. Can we be open to the possibility we may be wrong? How willing are we to change our minds? 3) Community. Can we be in real relationship with a variety of people whom we respect and who have varied opinions, and not just hang around the safety of our own silos?

Being open to the vastness of God's possibilities means doing the difficult work of humility, respect for those who believe differently, and open-mindedness. When we refuse, the stakes are high - and we may find ourselves face to face with Jesus and not recognizing him.

Chris Yaw

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