Ascension Day

Acts 1:6-11

The Ascension of Jesus
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 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.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 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.”

40 days since Easter

40 days since we applauded Jesus’ sacrifice

then hauled him out of the tomb

and got on with our lives

40 days that Jesus has walked beside us

offering us myriad glimpses 

of his Risen presence

It was the Risen Christ who sat on the bridge

holding out his cup for a coin

and then took our hand

and looked into our eyes 

and said thank you

as we glanced his way

and gave him some change.

It was the Risen Christ

who sat between us

as a colleague unloaded 

and processed

the costliness of her work

and rediscovered her inner wisdom 

and strength

to carry on serving.

It was the Risen Christ 

who dried our tears

and stoked our anger

and determination

as we tramped the beach

imploring, beseeching God

to show us how

to serve authentically

in an institution

that is besieged 

by power struggles

and injustice.

It was the Risen Christ...

It IS the Risen Christ

The Risen, Ascended Christ

who continues to penetrate

our consciousness

in our every day

looking into our eyes

through the eyes of all whom we encounter

reminding us of his teaching

imploring us to love

and willing us

to go and be disciples.

(Liz Crumlish Ascension 2019)