Ascension

You would think Jesus’ ascension would warrant more “press” than it got in the Gospels. Matthew and John don’t even mention it. Mark says “he was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.” Period. Luke reports a discourse from Jesus that culminates in his ascension and an admonition for them to return to Jerusalem to await the Holy Spirit. Luke also begins Acts with a brief reference to the ascension. Since both the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed make mention of it, you might think more would have been made of it.

But on the other hand, maybe not. Luke ends his account of it, and in fact his Gospel, with the response of the followers of Jesus. The are filled with joy and immediately get to the Temple to bless God. Luke thought this was so important that he wrote Acts as a follow on to show what that witnessing was about and what it accomplished. He adds a detail in Acts that he omits in the Gospel. Instead of heading off to Jerusalem immediately, they stand watching him ascend. Two heavenly figures appear and speak. As Clarence Jordan puts it in his The Cotton Patch Version of Luke and Acts, “As he went away, and while they were still staring into the sky, two men in blue jeans joined them and asked, ‘Citizens of America, why stand there looking at the sky?” Finally they move out. Mark, on the other hand, with his usual emphasis on the immediate puts it a bit differently, “and they went forth, and preached everywhere…”

Which, in the final analysis, is the response expected from all of us. Jordan sets his version of "Jesus' Doings and the Happenings" as the book is subtitled, in Atlanta and the surrounding area. His point is, of course, we don’t live in Israel, but the U.S. and as “Citizens of America,” are to be about going forth and preaching everywhere right where you are.

I know this is so painfully obvious that you’re wondering why I bothered to write about it. This morning I worshipped in a small parish that I happened to have visited for a summer eight years ago. It’s changed. There’s a different rector. There’s a smaller congregation (on this Sunday about 30% fewer than were there eight years ago). But, the make up of that small group of Christians more nearly reflected the changing neighborhood in which it’s located. And if the manner in which I was made welcome is any indication, I suspect that’s why. The Gospel was preached by the people of that parish as they extended me the Peace of the Lord and welcomed me warmly. And I suspect not because they're looking to bolster the rolls, but because of the spirit of the place and the Spirit of the place.

Perahps we'd do well to spend less time looking up and more time reaching out.

Peace,

Jerry+