Pastor’s corner 6/2/11

Commemoration of Ascension

It just so happens that today, June 2, falls exactly 40 days after Easter this year. In many Christian traditions, this day marks commemoration of Ascension. In Acts, Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after he left the tomb empty on that first Easter morning (see Acts 1:1-11).As far as celebrations in the life of the church, Ascension hardly ranks up there with Christmas, Easter or even Pentecost. However, it does help us connect the story of Jesus to our life here and now in Whitman County.

Here’s how the story goes: Throughout the forty days since Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to the disciples many times. He also promised the gift of the Holy Spirit, who would enable them to be Jesus’ “witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).With those words, Jesus was lifted up towards heaven and the disciples remained on the ground, looking up – apparently lost in a state of grief mixed with amazement. Finally, two “men in white robes stood by the disciples. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven?’” (Acts 1:10-11).

This scene is stuffed with anticipation and expectation. The disciples are hopeful that God is about to do something great, possibly to even restore the kingdom of Israel as they had expected the Messiah to do. They were looking forward to the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. “Is this the time?” they ask Jesus (Acts 1:6).But it is also filled with disappointment and sadness. Their teacher, friend, and leader was leaving them. The kingdom was not restored like they thought. They would not receive the Holy Spirit…at least, not yet.

Then, before they could completely untangle these complex and conflicting emotions, Jesus is gone. They are left staring up at the clouds trying to figure out what just happened and what they just saw. Can you imagine the jumbled thoughts and feelings they were experiencing at that time?

But life comes to us that way, doesn’t it? We live in a constant mixture of anticipation and expectation combined with sadness and disappointment. Maybe it’s the expectation of another family or class reunion mixed with the sadness that one more loved one is no longer with us. Maybe it’s the anticipation that this is going to be the year when you finally get the break or turn the corner to a better life, only to find that you bump up against one more road block.

However those two men dressed in white didn’t let the disciples keep gazing off to some other-worldly realm, wondering about “what could have been.” They are called back to the present and begin to understand the ascension is not so much about Jesus no longer being with them as it is about Jesus being with them, all of them, in a new way. Jesus may no longer be walking the earth, but he did not leave them (or us!) abandoned .Instead, he gave them the Holy Spirit who accompanies them and enables them to be witnesses to Jesus in word and deed.

Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is with you, all of you – whether you find yourself at the peek of excitement and joy, or in the depths of loss and disappointment. And it is through this gift that we are given the ability to witness to the presence of Christ in the world - starting in here Whitman County, moving out across the region and finally to the ends of the earth.

Pastor Phil Misner

Peace Lutheran Church, Colfax

Trinity Lutheran Church, Endicott