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.