May 12, 2021
When Jesus 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 towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? - Acts 1:9-11
Forty days after Easter, Jesus ascended into heaven. May 13 marks Ascension Day this year. The story is remembered at the end of the gospel according to Luke, and again at the start of Acts (this makes sense, these books are from the hand of the same author).
In one moment, the disciples were looking up at Jesus, the presence of God, as he disappeared into the clouds.
In the next moment, the disciples looked around, and they saw the presence of God again. In fact, it was because they had known Jesus that they were better able to perceive the presence of God around them.
Whether you understand the ascension of Jesus as a truth that is literal, figurative, metaphorical, or too-wonderful-to-define, the ascension of Jesus shows us a rhythm for our lives.
We look up . . . and then we look around.
We look up to God. We look up to remember the life of Jesus, who showed us who God is. We look up in awe at the wonder of God’s world: the trees newly leafed, the rising hills, the lights of the deep sky. We look up with reverence.
And then we look around, and find that God is right here with us. The same God who is easy to see in the places of beauty and awe is also in the places of ordinary and mundane life. The same God who is easy to see in the life of Jesus is also in the lives of people around us. It may be harder to see God in the midst of the every day, but that’s why we look up from time to time, to remember. And then we look around.
I invite you to spend one minute with the eyes of your heart raised to God. Rest your thoughts in the goodness and power of God. Remember the love and grace in the life of Jesus.
And then, look around you, and see if you can recognize the presence of God somewhere close by. Look in front of you. Turn around and look over your left shoulder, and then over your right shoulder. Look within yourself.
Jesus has ascended into heaven. And God is right here.
Peace,
