Sunday, April 16, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading 
Acts 1:6–14

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers. (NRSV)

Reflection

We had gone out on one of her visits to our home when she was living in Chicago and helped her pick out her first car. She had begun a new job, she was launching into her post-graduate school life. It was winter and the roads were slick, but she needed this car to get home at the end of odd shifts. We helped her pack up. We hugged her and said all the normal things any parent sending a child on a road trip, on a voyage off-shore, into a new life. “Be careful, have your cell phone charged, if it is too slick, come back.” And with key in hand and smile on her face, she hopped in and fastidiously fastened her seatbelt. She started the car and with a wave, drove off. We stood on the sidewalk, watching her round the bend of our snowy St. Paul, Minnesota, street.

My spouse and I stood for quite a while, staring at the place where the taillights disappeared. We were immobile.

How many of us have stood at the threshold of yesterday and tomorrow, watching a loved one leave? What was it like for those disciples to stand on the dusty mound and watch Jesus depart from them? Stunned by the unsatisfactory answer to their understandable question: Now, is this finally the time you will really restore the mess of the world? And the subtext: You’ve died, you’ve come back to us after your resurrection. Now? And rather than fulfilling their long-held belief in his purpose, he leaves them. Why?

Well, here is what the ascension is about, as best as I get it. He left so that the disciples (and that is us, my friends) would actualize their deepest calling! He left with such trust, such astonishing promise, such remarkable assurance in their and our capacity, infused with the sustaining power of the Spirit, that he might have said something like, “You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.” He left so that the promise could be fully actualized.

Our kid wanted to leave, needed to leave, and not only that, she thrived in her life. And we exhaled, just as the disciples did, turned, and got on with the next tasks ahead. Waiting for instruction, waiting for the very Spirit’s power!

Prayer

Give us strength and courage to let go when we must, O God. Give us vision and fortitude to meet the challenges afoot, O Christ. And may we be ready for the promised arrival of your Holiest and Magnificent Spirit, infusing, gracing, and empowering us to step up to all you have ahead. Through Christ, yes, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Written by Lucy Forster-Smith, Senior Associate Pastor

Reflection and prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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