Dearest e-votees-
Thursday of this week, May 14, is 40 days after April 5 (Easter). This day is called Ascension in the church year. It is reported in Acts 1:1-11 as well as in Luke 24:44-53 (both accounts are appointed texts written by Luke and addressed to Theophilus (aka God-lover)). For this week's e-vo we'll linger a bit with this important day of the church year.
Peace,
Karl
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1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:1-11, NRSV
Jesus lingered with the apostles showing them that he was indeed alive. He spent those forty days speaking about the kingdom of God as well. Luke would have delighted me more had some of those signs and teachings been recorded. As part of that time Jesus told his disciples to wait until the gift of the Holy Spirit had come. In the Luke text it talks about the disciples being "clothed with power from on high." We understand this to be Pentecost which is 10 more days (50 days after Easter).
Jesus charges the apostles to bear witness in the immediate area (Jerusalem), to familiar folks who lie further out (Judea) and to those with whom tensions exist (Samaria) all the way to places they have yet to go (to the ends of the earth). Church tradition traces out just how far the apostles went, after Pentecost, bearing the good news of the gospel. After charging them to be witnesses Jesus ascends.
The apostles are looking up--probably with mouths gaping--trying to figure out what just happened. Two men in white robes (perhaps people, perhaps other-worldly messengers) tell them to stop staring up into the heavens and to refocus. Do you think we ever get so heavenly focused that we forget what is immediately around us that God has called us to tend? I am reminded of Sister Act where the congregation is so focused on trying to sustain themselves and survive (gaping upward) that they seemed to profoundly neglect what was immediately around them. One of the pivotal scenes is when the nuns press out of the safety of the church and into the neighborhood. In venturing out they encounter people fashioned in God's image and even, if you buy Matthew 25, Jesus himself. That movie has much to say to us. Do we have ears to hear?
God, thank you for your abiding Holy Spirit. Help us allow you to abide in us and to draw our attention towards our neighbors as well as towards you. Help us love you with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. Help us love you above all others. Amen.
Thursday of this week, May 14, is 40 days after April 5 (Easter). This day is called Ascension in the church year. It is reported in Acts 1:1-11 as well as in Luke 24:44-53 (both accounts are appointed texts written by Luke and addressed to Theophilus (aka God-lover)). For this week's e-vo we'll linger a bit with this important day of the church year.
Peace,
Karl
------------
1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Jesus lingered with the apostles showing them that he was indeed alive. He spent those forty days speaking about the kingdom of God as well. Luke would have delighted me more had some of those signs and teachings been recorded. As part of that time Jesus told his disciples to wait until the gift of the Holy Spirit had come. In the Luke text it talks about the disciples being "clothed with power from on high." We understand this to be Pentecost which is 10 more days (50 days after Easter).
Jesus charges the apostles to bear witness in the immediate area (Jerusalem), to familiar folks who lie further out (Judea) and to those with whom tensions exist (Samaria) all the way to places they have yet to go (to the ends of the earth). Church tradition traces out just how far the apostles went, after Pentecost, bearing the good news of the gospel. After charging them to be witnesses Jesus ascends.
The apostles are looking up--probably with mouths gaping--trying to figure out what just happened. Two men in white robes (perhaps people, perhaps other-worldly messengers) tell them to stop staring up into the heavens and to refocus. Do you think we ever get so heavenly focused that we forget what is immediately around us that God has called us to tend? I am reminded of Sister Act where the congregation is so focused on trying to sustain themselves and survive (gaping upward) that they seemed to profoundly neglect what was immediately around them. One of the pivotal scenes is when the nuns press out of the safety of the church and into the neighborhood. In venturing out they encounter people fashioned in God's image and even, if you buy Matthew 25, Jesus himself. That movie has much to say to us. Do we have ears to hear?
God, thank you for your abiding Holy Spirit. Help us allow you to abide in us and to draw our attention towards our neighbors as well as towards you. Help us love you with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. Help us love you above all others. Amen.
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