Word to the Wise
Sunday, May 24, 2009 - The Ascension of the Lord
[Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23 or 4:1-13; Mark 16:15-20]Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.
Sometimes trivial expressions do a better job of capturing important moments than the usual ponderous ceremonial words that mark annual solemnities. For some reason the words, "To be continued....." seem to me to capture the spirit of the celebration of the Lord's Ascension in a nutshell. Indeed the Acts of the Apostles is the initial story of the "to be continued...." All four gospels, composed years after Jesus' death, are part of the "to be continued...." The career and writings of St. Paul and all other authors of the scriptures of the New Testament are part of the "to be continued...." We are part of 2000 years of "to be continued....." What is inspiring is that the "to be continued..." DID continue! Why didn't the story of Jesus just die out with the apostles and early preachers? The opposition was (and continues to be) considerable! Despite incredible efforts to destroy the Church (another word for "to be continued....") the Church remains and "continues!" The feast of the Ascension is not an invitation to mourn the final departure of Jesus, but an invitation to "continue" his ministry. "You will be my witnesses.....to the ends of the earth." This annual celebration is a reminder and an encouragement - "to be continued...!" AMEN
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