Audio 5.17.2015 Ascension
Dontcha just wish that Jesus would open our minds to understand the scriptures? That it would be that easy? That we would know with complete certainty that we were right about the literal interpretation of all things? What a fantasy, what a dream, and yet, when we read this story about Jesus' ascension into heaven, doesn't it seem like a fantasy? A dream? Jesus is taken up to heaven, what does this mean?
Jesus leaves, but we stay. As it turns out, this is the ultimate "left behind" story, but according to Jesus, being left behind is neither a sign of imperfect faith nor a chance to prove your self worthy. Rather, being left behind is an honor, an invitation to participate in the glory of God, a commissioning, in fact, into the work of the Jesus. Eternal life, glory, relationship with God are all around us. Where? In doing what Jesus does. Healing, feeding, caring, listening, sharing, making manifest the grace and mercy of the God who so loved the world.
Clearly this links up with a lot of the tasks often associated with who we are -- caring for the poor, feeding the hungry, and so forth. And that is worth celebrating. And not only do we do what Jesus does because that is what we are called to do, but the ordinary tasks of everyday life -- work, play, family life, civic involvement, volunteer opportunities -- all of these ordinary and mundane things, are also work that honors God.
So why does this matter? Why do we observe this Ascension? Because Jesus has left us behind for the good of the world. You see, what Jesus did and does matters, and what you do and who you are, matters. It matters to God, it matters to the church, it matters to us, who gather here each week. I want you to know that. What you do in your work and your play and your school, day in and day out, makes a difference to God's kingdom, the kingdom Jesus left behind.
There is a connection between the couple hours you spend each week here in worship, and the 167 hours you spend everywhere else -- that's why you keep giving over this couple of hours. What we do here matters to what you do in all the places you go, with all the people you encounter. What we do here matters to the justice, and the healing, and the compassion, and the mercy, God calls you to bear into the world. What we do here matters to your participating in building God's kingdom. What we do here supports, and informs and nurtures you, so that you can go into the world to do what God calls you to do.
So Jesus has left us behind for the good of the world. Where in your life do you help care for God's world and people? What's really important about this is that Jesus has left us behind and trusts us to do something with that. This life is not simply practice for the next one. It's not some kind of trial, something to be endured until a future glory. It's not a test, a time and place to prove ourselves worthy of heaven. Yes, there are trials. Yes, things can be difficult, confusing, sometimes down right discouraging. But in this passage we have the two-fold promise that God is with us to help us not merely persevere but also to flourish. That's what the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, is and that God intends us to be committed to this world, this people, this place, here and now. Glory, eternity, relationship with God -- these things are always in the present tense and we are commissioned and blessed to participate in this work and to share this amazing promise of God's love for us right here and right now. And, in this story of Jesus ascension, we are trusted to do the work Jesus asked us to do, with the Holy Spirit as our partner. Who and how do we know this Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is part of those people in our lives who help us to be our best selves, the people who help us to strive for mercy and justice and compassion. The Holy Spirit is in those times when we can sit in the quiet and hear what God would call us to do and who God would call us to be.
So, we'd better get to work, right? Whether we feel ready to do the work Jesus has trusted us to do, whether we feel equal to the task, and sometimes the task of feeding and clothing people feels like a huge task. Living in the reality of justice and peace, when it's hard to see any justice and peace around us, sometimes feels like a mountain to be climbed. Ready or not, it's the work Jesus left to us. And ready or not, it's the work the Holy Spirit empowers us to do. So we best quit standing here staring at the bottom of Jesus' feet and instead get to work, feeding, healing, teaching, loving, sharing, breaking bread, pouring wine, and welcoming those Jesus loves.
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