Ascension Day: Time for Christians to Work for Equality and Justice

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 1:1-11 (NRSV)

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 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. 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; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

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."

Psalm 47 (BCP, p. 650)


Ephesians 1:15-23 (NRSV)

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Luke 24:44-53 (NRSV)

Jesus said to his disciples, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you-- that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. See, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Blog Reflection
 
When ever I read the last verses of the reading from Acts: "why do you stand there gazing into heaven?"  I get the impression that the Angels were telling the Apostles to get to work.   You can only stand looking up to the heavens looking for something awesome to happen so long, while the work to be done in the here and now waits for your hands and mine.   St. Benedict thought of this same kind of thing when he wrote in his Rule:  "Idleness is the enemy of the soul" (Chapter 48, The Daily Labor).

I often think that one of the dangers for Christians always thinking about the end of our lives and judgement day, is that we don't pay attention to what is here before us.  We worry so much about the eternal destiny of our souls, that we forget that there is salvation of our souls here and now as we do what is required of us today, at this moment.  When we seek to work for equality and justice for the marginalized of the Church and society, we honor the work of Christ, who ascended into heaven.  We prepare a place for the Reign of God here on earth, as well as in heaven.  So we say in the Lord's Prayer.

Here at the 40th Day of Easter, we commemorate the Ascension of Jesus to the right hand of God.  Before he ascended, Jesus called upon those first Apostles to proclaim the Gospel and baptize all nations.  So Jesus calls upon us to do the same.  The Gospel of not just what Jesus said, but what he did.  Loving the unlovable.   Healing the sick.  Raising the dead.  Calling people to repentance and forgiveness of sins, and reconciling the lost and forsaken to God's holy family.  These are the things that the Church is called to do and proclaim.   But, we are also to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost eleven days from today, so that we will be lead into all truth.  The truth that never stops revealing the power of God through those who believe in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Yet, what we have seen throughout Church history and even in today's time, the message of the Gospel being hijacked by Biblical literalists who make Christianity into a religion of hate and discrimination.  The Name of the Lord is taken in vain as wars in the Name of Christ are begun because a certain group of Christians support slavery for African Americans, or the destruction of the Native Americans, the targeting of Jews and Muslims.   Fundamentalist and arch-conservative Christians stand gazing into heaven and stuck in the dark ages, use a counterfeit version of the Gospel to support the discrimination towards women and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.  Even though Jesus himself, never said a word about homosexuality.   Paul's words in places like Romans 1: 27 and 1 Corinthians 6:9 etc, get wrenched out of context, and used to support cruel rhetoric and violent behavior.  In the Name of a loving and all-inclusive God.  

We have been given a sharing in the mystery of God's love in Jesus Christ so as to welcome the stranger, the outcast and those who are told that there is no place for them in the Church and society.  There is Gospel work to be done, and everyone is welcome to be part of the efforts.  Jesus welcomes all nations, races, languages, sexual orientations, genders, gender identities/expressions etc, to be participants in the work of God's redemption and salvation through the work of the Church for the good of all humankind.  No exceptions.

All of us Christians have work to be done in our own hearts.  All of us carry that something for someone who is different from ourselves, in a poor attitude.  We all have our moments of being uncomfortable with someone that just makes us a little bit afraid of them, but we just do not talk about it.  We act in certain ways, and pray that no one notices. But, we know in our own hearts, some thing is just not right. We all have some kind of hypocrisy inside of us.  That is God speaking to us.  God is answering the prayers of Jesus, our only Mediator and Advocate, as the Holy Spirit moves on our hearts to look at ourselves through the eyes of God's forgiving grace and mercy.   But, calling us to a new understanding of God, others and ourselves.  
As we open our hearts and minds to the healing of God's Holy Spirit, we also pray that we will be motivated to become people of radical hospitality and reconciliation so as to fulfill the call of Jesus before his Ascension.


Prayers

Almighty God, whos blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ
ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things:
Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his
promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end
of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory
everlasting. Amen. (Collect for Ascension Day, Book of Common Prayer, p. 226).

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815).

Gracious Father, we pray for they holy Catholic Church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,
purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is
amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in
want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.  (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.  (Prayer for the Unity of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p. 818).