![]() Various customs are associated with this day. They knew that he still loved them, simply because he appeared to them after he rose from the grave and, most importantly, he had entrusted his mission on earth to them. They had begun to comprehend the nature of God’s love and power so should we. They knew that they would see him again when he returned, as he had assured them that he would, at the end of time and the day of resurrection. They knew he was the Son of God and the Saviour of the world, the long-promised Messiah. ![]() For the disciples this must have been an amazing day. They knew Jesus was alive. I do not want to deny the exultant triumph of our risen Lord and the freedom his ascent has brought us. In Indonesia, in spite of the fact that 80% of the population are Muslim, Ascension Day is a public holiday, a day to go to church for Christians, a day to rest and enjoy life for Muslims. Notice the beautiful sound that rises like a stream of praise and worship to God. Listen to the birds singing the dawn chorus. Go out into the woods, your local park or even the beach early in the morning. I think this would be a wonderful tradition to incorporate in our Ascension Day celebrations. What beautiful imagery to carry with us for the rest of the season until Pentecost. It is said to be good luck if a cuckoo is heard from the east or west. ![]() In Sweden people go into the woods very early in the morning to hear the birds at sunrise. I prefer to focus on this imagery because so much of the language of ascent seems to focus more on the triumphalism of a militaristic parade rather than the ascent of a servant king whose advocacy will restore and renew all things. It seems such an appropriate celebration for those of us who are interested in sustainability and creation care. The day is also, and in some ways more importantly, a celebration of the new creation that Jesus’ resurrection brought into being. You will find the Biblical accounts of the Ascension in Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:6-11. This is the fortieth day after Easter Sunday and we celebrate the ascension of Christ into heaven. Let us, on this Ascension Day, remember that first principle of the Christian faith: I believe in the God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.May 18th, 2023 is Ascension day, not one that I grew up with or one that many protestants are familiar with. Luther’s explanation of the simple sentence of belief in God makes clear that all the blessings we enjoy each day are gifts each day. Now, we certainly are clever, and accomplish many things in our lives, don’t we? The First Article reminds us that all the cleverness we claim is after all a gift of God. Luther reminds us that all we have and enjoy in this world is of Him – we are the author of none of it. As we do believe in Him in this way, we are centered in relationship with Him, aware of our complete lack of power and of His total possession of the power of creation and destruction. Today we read together Luther’s explanation of the First Article of the Apostles’ Creed, that simple sentence that affirms our believe in God as creator of all things. ![]() Without this day, the conclusion of His years on the earth, we would have none of what He has promised and left to us, that is, to one day join Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit. This weekend we recognize Ascension Day, that day upon which, after 40 days as the resurrected Christ on this earth, He ascended into heaven and took His place in the throne room of heaven.
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