The Ascension of the Lord
As I reflect on the reading from Acts (1: 1-11) in which we hear about Jesus being taken up into the clouds as the disciples look on, I wonder what the experience was like for them. Jesus promised the disciples he would send the Holy Spirit soon to strengthen them to carry on the work that he has begun in them and has instructed them to continue. But, I wonder what it was like for them to see Jesus leave again after the excitement of him being in their presence post- resurrection. Were they afraid? Were they confused? The author of Acts tells us that at least some of the disciples were still anticipating Jesus taking some political action, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” It seems that they still didn’t quite “get”what Jesus was all about. Were they feeling disappointed or abandoned? Were they hopeful or doubtful of the promise of the Holy Spirit? And what would that be like?
Imagining the disciples gathered around the spot where Jesus had stood and gazing up into the sky brings to mind, for me, a feeling like watching my parents drive away as I went off to college for the first time. Or when I was a young adult moving away from my family and hometown into my own apartment, and my parents finally had to head back home after helping me move in. It’s a mix of excitement and fear, hopefulness and insecurity. Will I be okay on my own? Will I be able to handle everything without my parents and previous teachers and supports?
Or perhaps it’s like losing a parent, spouse, or other close person through death, and feeling suddenly quite alone in the world even though you may know they are with you in spirit.
The gospel reading from Matthew (28: 16-20) reminds us that Jesus has promised to be with us always, “…behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Scripture commentary tells us that this promise of Jesus’ “real though invisible presence” alludes to the name Emmanuel given to him in the infancy narrative (Matt 1: 23), meaning “God is with us.” We are reminded, again, of God’s desire and promise to be with us – always.
Like the disciples after Jesus’ ascension, we must rely on the presence of the Holy Spirit and of seeing Jesus not with physical eye sight, but with the “eyes of our hearts,” as Paul refers to in today’s second reading in his letter to the Ephesians (1: 17-23). He encourages them (and us), “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call….”
As we reflect on Jesus’ ascension and prepare for Pentecost, may we be encouraged by Jesus’ promise to be with us always through the Holy Spirit. And let us ask for the eyes of our hearts to be opened that we may know God’s presence to comfort and strengthen us to carry on the work that we are being called to do.
Eileen Miller