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     Back in 1988, I had the wonderful experience of a trip to the Holy Land.  The visits to sites where Jesus had lived and preached were very inspiring and those memories remain with me.  One thing that also remains with me from that time is that where fact leaves off, human imagination takes over and sometimes becomes "tradition" (with a small "t.")  On the mountain where "tradition" says Jesus ascended, there is a chapel with a large stone in it that has an indentation which "tradition" says is the imprint of Jesus' foot!  That this chapel is not in Galilee doesn't seem to matter.  It's all part of the experience.  

     What we know about the ascension of the Lord is mostly from the evangelist Luke who gives us two versions, one in the gospel and the other in the Acts of the Apostles.  The latter account is our first scripture for today.  The gospels of Mark, Matthew and John show very little concern about this event.  The overriding concern is the commission to go and preach the gospel to all nations.  Indeed, that commission continues today in all of us - the Body of Christ -, guided and fortified by the Holy Spirit.  In the scripture from the Acts of the Apostles, the "two men dressed in white" chide the apostles for gawking at the sky.  

     Next Sunday, we will celebrate the feast of Pentecost - the coming of the Holy Spirit.  There is considerable reflection right now about how the church will look after the terrible pandemic.  Right now, we have the same commission to preach, teach and baptize.  We may have to wear masks and observe "social distancing."  We may have to do without communion under both kinds for awhile.  Gatherings may be small and "live streamed" worship may continue, but Jesus' commission remains, given to us on a mountain just as his Sermon on the Mount was given. The ball is in our court!  The feast of the Ascension pushes us toward Pentecost and the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit which we have all received in Baptism and Confirmation.  AMEN