Year B
Acts 1:1-11
Psalm 47
Ephesians 1:15-23
Luke 24:44-53<\/p>\n\n\n\n
May the words of my mouth O God\u2026 speak your truth\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The word Ascension\u2026 is one of those church words which may not have much\u2026 if any meaning\u2026 to those outside the church\u2026 in fact… the ascension of Christ and Ascension Day itself may seem like an obscure event\u2026 to even some church members\u2026 ] portrayals of the Ascension in art\u2026 can appear awkward\u2026 or even conflicted\u2026 with Jesus either being carried up by angels\u2026 or ascending on his own power into the clouds as though he could fly\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This may sound odd to us in the 21st century\u2026 but in the Middle Ages in Europe\u2026 Ascension Day was sometimes commemorated with a statue of Christ\u2026 that was lifted up right through the roof of the church\u2026 or with hikes up local hills and mountains\u2026 and we may wonder what theological purpose this event has for us today\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most faith-filled answer\u2026 is that Jesus had done his part\u2026 and was preparing the way for those who would follow him\u2026 they were to begin doing THEIR work\u2026 through him and with him\u2026 in restoring the world to its eventual completion in love\u2026 and so the Ascension was not so much about Jesus\u2026 but about the disciples\u2026 and it is about us\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Rev. Rebecca Hansen of St. Dunstan\u2019s Church [ in San Diego ] writes\u2026 the word “ascent” or “ascension” does at least\u2026 have a straightforward meaning\u2026 it simply means to move upward\u2026 to rise\u2026 or to be lifted up\u2026 it’s often used to describe those rising in rank or in position\u2026 or even to describe the act of an airplane as it rises into the sky\u2026 in this case\u2026 the “ascension” refers to Jesus\u2019 ascent as he was lifted up into the heavens at the end of his earthly ministry\u2026 and this event was assumed to have occurred on the Mount of Olives\u2026 forty days after his resurrection… ] and let’s remember that the Ascension has been observed by Christians since at least the fourth century\u2026 it’s one of the few affirmations we make about Jesus\u2019 life in our ancient creeds\u2026 in the Nicene Creed\u2026 we affirm that Jesus\u2026 ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal of the Sursum Corda<\/em>\u2026 those six lines we say at the beginning of the Eucharist\u2026 is essentially to participate in an ascension of the heart\u2026 by intentionally\u2026 and prayerfully\u2026 lifting up our hearts to God in faith\u2026 love\u2026 and joy\u2026 ] from a spiritual and emotional standpoint\u2026 this is a moment to bring our awareness into God\u2019s presence\u2026 and in that sense\u2026 we are called to ascend to God\u2026 just as Jesus ascended to God\u2026 by lifting up our hearts\u2026 our souls\u2026 and our deepest selves to God\u2026 ] the Sursum Corda<\/em> reminds us\u2026 that the Eucharist is not just about Jesus coming to be with us\u2026 but that it is a joint effort of both descension and ascension\u2026 ] that our entire spiritual journey is a joint effort that involves God coming to us\u2026 and us responding by coming to God\u2026 and that we too are called to ascend in heart\u2026 body\u2026 and mind\u2026 ] and in this way\u2026 heaven and earth are joined together for the work of God\u2019s Kingdom\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fr. John Meulendyk reminds us that a well-known work of music may help us better understand the Ascension\u2026 ] Italian composer Giacomo Puccini wrote La Boheme\u2026 Madama Butterfly\u2026 and Tosca\u2026 it was during his battle with terminal cancer in 1922 that he began to write Turandot\u2026 which many consider to be Puccini\u2019s best work\u2026 he worked tirelessly on the score during his final days\u2026 despite the advice of friends to rest and save his energy\u2026 and when Puccini\u2019s sickness worsened\u2026 he said to his disciples\u2026 If I don\u2019t finish Turandot<\/u>\u2026 I want you to finish it<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Puccini died in 1924\u2026 and his work was left unfinished\u2026 but his students gathered Turandot’s unfinished score\u2026 studied it in great detail\u2026 and then proceeded to write the remainder of the opera\u2026 the world premiere of Turandot was performed in Milan\u2019s La Scala Opera House in 1926\u2026 and Maestro Arturo Toscanini\u2026 Puccini\u2019s favorite student\u2026 conducted it\u2026 the opera flowed seamlessly until Toscanini came to the end of the part written by Puccini\u2026 he then stopped the music\u2026 put down the baton\u2026 turned to the audience\u2026 and announced\u2026 Thus far the master wrote\u2026 but he died<\/em>\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Reportedly\u2026 there was a long pause\u2026 no one moved\u2026 it was then that Toscanini picked up the baton\u2026 turned to the audience and with eyes full of tears\u2026 and concluded\u2026 But his disciples finished his work<\/em>\u2026 the opera finished with a thunderous applause… and Puccini\u2019s piece found a permanent place in the annals of great works\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Likewise\u2026 in remembering the Ascension of Jesus\u2026 we too look up and ask ourselves\u2026 What now\u2026 What is unfinished\u2026 <\/em> the answer is that Jesus ascended\u2026 so that we could begin completing his unfinished work of transforming humankind\u2026 by proclaiming God\u2019s Good News of love by our words and actions\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n When we follow Jesus and experience true ascension\u2026 we experience grace\u2026 and Luke\u2019s Gospel illustrates that result\u2026 ] following Christ\u2019s ascension\u2026 the text says that the disciples experienced three things\u2026 worship\u2026 great joy\u2026 and blessing\u2026 this is the same pattern of the Eucharistic prayer\u2026 and this is the pattern of the spiritual life\u2026 ] when we ascend and lift up our hearts to God… we too are filled with God\u2019s life-giving praise\u2026 worship\u2026 blessing\u2026 and joy\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course\u2026 Sunday morning isn’t the only time we’re called to ascend and lift up our hearts to God\u2026 but throughout our day\u2026 we can lift up our hearts to God in moments of ascension\u2026 anytime and anywhere\u2026 if we’re aggravated by something\u2026 on the verge of losing our temper\u2026 if we’ve just been cut off in traffic\u2026 we can pause and lift our hearts up to God\u2026 ] so far from being an obscure event\u2026 ascension can be a theological reminder of how we might live out and practice our faith regularly\u2026 knowing that God has come to us\u2026 and we have been called to come to God\u2026 so lift up your hearts!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Year B Acts 1:1-11 Psalm 47 Ephesians 1:15-23 Luke 24:44-53 May the words of my mouth O God\u2026 speak your truth\u2026 The word Ascension\u2026 is one of those church words which may not have much\u2026 if any meaning\u2026 to those outside the church\u2026 in fact… the ascension of Christ and Ascension Day itself may seem like an obscure event\u2026 to even some church members\u2026 ] portrayals of the Ascension in art\u2026 can appear awkward\u2026 or even conflicted\u2026 with Jesus either being carried up by angels\u2026 or ascending on his own power into the clouds as though he could fly\u2026 This may sound odd to us in the 21st century\u2026 but in the Middle Ages in Europe\u2026 Ascension Day was sometimes commemorated with a statue of Christ\u2026 that was lifted up right through the roof of the church\u2026 or with hikes up local hills and mountains\u2026 and we may wonder what theological purpose this event has for us today\u2026 The most faith-filled answer\u2026 is that Jesus had done his part\u2026 and was preparing the way for those who would follow him\u2026 they were to begin doing THEIR work\u2026 through him and with him\u2026 in restoring the world to its eventual completion in love\u2026 and so the Ascension was not so much about Jesus\u2026 but about the disciples\u2026 and it is about us\u2026 The Rev. Rebecca Hansen of St. Dunstan\u2019s Church [ in San Diego ] writes\u2026 the word “ascent” or “ascension” does at least\u2026 have a straightforward meaning\u2026 it simply means to move upward\u2026 to rise\u2026 or to be lifted up\u2026 it’s often used to describe those rising in rank or in position\u2026 or even to describe the act of an airplane as it rises into the sky\u2026 in this case\u2026 the “ascension” refers to Jesus\u2019 ascent as he was lifted up into the heavens at the end of his earthly ministry\u2026 and this event was assumed to have occurred on the Mount of Olives\u2026 forty days after his resurrection… ] and let’s remember that the Ascension has been observed by Christians since at least the fourth century\u2026 it’s one of the few affirmations we make about Jesus\u2019 life in our ancient creeds\u2026 in the Nicene Creed\u2026 we affirm that Jesus\u2026 ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father\u2026 The goal of the Sursum Corda\u2026 those six lines we say at the beginning of the Eucharist\u2026 is essentially to participate in an ascension of the heart\u2026 by intentionally\u2026 and prayerfully\u2026 lifting up our hearts to God in faith\u2026 love\u2026 and joy\u2026 ] from a spiritual and emotional standpoint\u2026 this is a moment to bring our awareness into God\u2019s presence\u2026 and in that sense\u2026 we are called to ascend to God\u2026 just as Jesus ascended to God\u2026 by lifting up our hearts\u2026 our souls\u2026 and our deepest selves to God\u2026 ] the Sursum Corda reminds us\u2026 that the Eucharist is not just about Jesus coming to be with us\u2026 but that it is a joint effort of both descension and ascension\u2026 ] that our entire spiritual journey is a joint effort that involves God coming to us\u2026 and us responding by coming to God\u2026 and that we too are called to ascend in heart\u2026 body\u2026 and mind\u2026 ] and in this way\u2026 heaven and earth are joined together for the work of God\u2019s Kingdom\u2026 Fr. John Meulendyk reminds us that a well-known work of music may help us better understand the Ascension\u2026 ] Italian composer Giacomo Puccini wrote La Boheme\u2026 Madama Butterfly\u2026 and Tosca\u2026 it was during his battle with terminal cancer in 1922 that he began to write Turandot\u2026 which many consider to be Puccini\u2019s best work\u2026 he worked tirelessly on the score during his final days\u2026 despite the advice of friends to rest and save his energy\u2026 and when Puccini\u2019s sickness worsened\u2026 he said to his disciples\u2026 If I don\u2019t finish Turandot\u2026 I want you to finish it\u2026 Puccini died in 1924\u2026 and his work was left unfinished\u2026 but his students gathered Turandot’s unfinished score\u2026 studied it in great detail\u2026 and then proceeded to write the remainder of the opera\u2026 the world premiere of Turandot was performed in Milan\u2019s La Scala Opera House in 1926\u2026 and Maestro Arturo Toscanini\u2026 Puccini\u2019s favorite student\u2026 conducted it\u2026 the opera flowed seamlessly until Toscanini came to the end of the part written by Puccini\u2026 he then stopped the music\u2026 put down the baton\u2026 turned to the audience\u2026 and announced\u2026 Thus far the master wrote\u2026 but he died\u2026 Reportedly\u2026 there was a long pause\u2026 no one moved\u2026 it was then that Toscanini picked up the baton\u2026 turned to the audience and with eyes full of tears\u2026 and concluded\u2026 But his disciples finished his work\u2026 the opera finished with a thunderous applause… and Puccini\u2019s piece found a permanent place in the annals of great works\u2026 Likewise\u2026 in remembering the Ascension of Jesus\u2026 we too look up and ask ourselves\u2026 What now\u2026 What is unfinished\u2026 the answer is that Jesus ascended\u2026 so that we could begin completing his unfinished work of transforming humankind\u2026 by proclaiming God\u2019s Good News of love by our words and actions\u2026 When we follow Jesus and experience true ascension\u2026 we experience grace\u2026 and Luke\u2019s Gospel illustrates that result\u2026 ] following Christ\u2019s ascension\u2026 the text says that the disciples experienced three things\u2026 worship\u2026 great joy\u2026 and blessing\u2026 this is the same pattern of the Eucharistic prayer\u2026 and this is the pattern of the spiritual life\u2026 ] when we ascend and lift up our hearts to God… we too are filled with God\u2019s life-giving praise\u2026 worship\u2026 blessing\u2026 and joy\u2026 Of course\u2026 Sunday morning isn’t the only time we’re called to ascend and lift up our hearts to God\u2026 but throughout our day\u2026 we can lift up our hearts to God in moments of ascension\u2026 anytime and anywhere\u2026 if we’re aggravated by something\u2026 on the verge of losing our temper\u2026 if we’ve just been cut off in traffic\u2026 we can pause and lift our hearts up to God\u2026 ] so far from being an obscure event\u2026 ascension can be a theological […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2514,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[325,327,326],"class_list":["post-2513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sermons","tag-ascension-sunday","tag-practice-faith","tag-unfinished-business"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/twochurches.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/art-ascension.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/twochurches.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/twochurches.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/twochurches.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twochurches.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twochurches.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2513"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/twochurches.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2515,"href":"https:\/\/twochurches.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2513\/revisions\/2515"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twochurches.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2514"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/twochurches.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twochurches.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twochurches.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}