RENEWsletter for May 16, 2010 - Ascension of the Lord (7th Easter)

Dear Renewed friends in Christ--
This Sunday, here in the western US, we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. Elsewhere it's the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Since I am writing from California, we'll go with the flow and do the Ascension.

The thing that is significant about Christ's ascension is that by it, and the eyewitness accounts of it, we know that Jesus is alive and at work at God's right hand. Now, while Luke wasn't an eyewitness himself, in researching his two books, The Gospel of Luke and its sequel The Acts of the Apostles, he interviewed eyewitnesses. That's why these two books are included in the Canon. Their content was authentic and verifiable.

The readings for Ascension Sunday are the same every year. You can find them on the web at http://www.usccb.org/nab/051610a.shtml, and in your Bible in:

Acts 1.1-11
Psalm 47.2-3, 6-7, 8-9
Ephesians 1.17-23 or Hebrews 9.24-28 & 10.19-23
Luke 24.46-53

In case you're interested, the Seventh Sunday of Easter Readings are at http://www.usccb.org/nab/051610b.shtml, i.e. Acts 7.55-60; Psalm 97.1-2, 6-7, 9; Revelation 22.12-14, 16-17, 20; John 17.20-26.

The First Reading from Acts is a summary of the actions of Jesus after his resurrection and his promise that the Holy Spirit would be coming soon (Acts 1.1-5). Then follows an account of the Ascension itself (v. 9). Have you ever seen a shuttle launch (or a Mercury, or Gemini, or Apollo launch) in real life? Do you remember watching the launch vehicle get smaller and smaller (and quieter and quieter) as it rose into the clear blue sky and out of sight? How long did it take you gazing at the vast blue expanse to realize you couldn't see anything anymore? Well that's what happened to the Apostles when Jesus's "launch" took place. They watched him rise until they couldn't see him anymore (v. 10). Then those two guys in white robes drug them back to earth and the business at hand. "How come you guys are craning your necks at the sky? He's on his way to the right hand of the Father, but he'll be coming back the same way he left" (v. 11).

The Responsorial Psalm is a song about this "right hand of the Father" stuff. "God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy and a blare of trumpets!" (Ps. 47.6). From that command position God rules. "God is king of all the earth. God reigns over the nations" (vs. 8, 9). We rejoice with the psalmist that God is in control!

The two Second Readings not only reiterate the announcement of the two angels at the Ascension... that Jesus will be coming back to bring salvation to all who eagerly await him (Heb. 9.28)... but also that he is at work in the interim ruling over all the principalities, authorities, powers, and dominions of this world (Eph. 1.21). We therefore have the hope and assurance, not only that we will join him, but also that we will be washed clean. Clean. Sin gone. Doubts gone. Tears gone. As the Jefferson Airplane put it in a song titled "Starship": "A million pounds gone from your heavy mass, all the years gone from your age." I'm looking forward to that!

The Gospel Reading, from Volume I of Dr. Luke's 2-volume work, also describes the Ascension, but in less detail. The emphasis here is on what Jesus said to his disciples before he departed. "You will be clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24.49). He promised them (and us) that the Holy Spirit was coming. The Holy Spirit clothes us with power. While Jesus was on Earth, leading and teaching (and healing) his followers, he was definitely in the driver's seat. They were more or less passengers in that powerful movement.

But now he was leaving the reins of the new church in their (and our) hands. Sometimes the going takes us through the fog or the darkness, but with the Holy Spirit guiding, we'll be okay. The Navigator knows the way and if we don't try to wander off on our own, the trip will be exhilarating. And the destination beyond our wildest dreams.

There's a painting by Warner Sallman called "Christ the Pilot" showing a young man at the helm of a ship. Storm clouds roil in the sky above him. And behind him, with a hand his shoulder, stands Christ, pointing the way. Let the Pilot guide you this week and see where he takes you!

Randy Jones
"Those who do not ask for directions may get lost!"