June 2025

Thursday, May 29, was the Feast of the Ascension in the liturgical calendar. Writing about Christ’s disciples after he ascended to heaven, Rachel Srubas notes, “They surely needed time to weep, wait, wonder, and worship before they could accept the Holy Spirit’s fiery Pentecost gifts….”*

Rev. Srubas' phrasing caught our attention and prompted these reflections.

*"Ascensiontide Hope," in Give Us This Day (May 2025), p. 302.

Weep. Wait. Wonder. Worship. Those actions are complementary, not contradictory. At different times, and in different circumstances, each can be a faithful and faith-filled response to the gospel.

Weep. Some would have us believe that weeping is unfaithful. At a Christian conference I attended years ago, one speaker glibly chirped, “You have no choice; rejoice!” Had she forgotten that Jesus, himself, wept? And are we not called, by scripture, to “weep with those who weep”? Oh yes, weeping can, at times, be a sign of despair. More often, it is a sign of deep compassion. It is a sign that we share in God’s love for our neighbors and for this troubled world.

Wait. Waiting is not just killing time. To wait is to live in anticipation, to allow the hoped-for future to shape how we live now. For Christians, that is not simply the hoped-for future; it is the promised future, the promise of a new creation where righteousness is at home, where mercy is manifest, where true justice reigns. To wait is to live in anticipation, in readiness, in preparation for that which awaits us.

Wonder. Too often I skip this step. Working through my to-do list or scrolling through my messages, I tend to overlook the simple wonders of everyday life. The beauty of a rosebud. The delightful energy of a hummingbird. Even the antics of the squirrels and the lizards on the patio. Then, add in music and friendship and laughter. May we never forget to savor the wonders of God’s creation, as well as the depth of God’s love, made known in Jesus Christ.

Worship. To shift our focus away from ourselves. To express our gratitude for all those wonders. To praise all that is good. To lift our eyes beyond the mundane; to lift our minds toward the realms of mystery; to open our hearts to the gracious embrace of the Holy One.

May this brief season from Ascension to Pentecost be a season for us all to weep, wait, wonder, and worship.

--Bill

The Easter wreath is still on our front door. Well, it’s not really a wreath; it’s a cross made of dried vine tendrils boosting three glossy Easter lilies in full bloom on a bed of English ivy and white Ipheion spring starflowers. We celebrate the Easter season from Easter to Pentecost.

During our May 29 afternoon spiritual reading, I noticed these similarities of the “weep, wait, and wonder” pattern of the post – Resurrection events:

It was after the crucifixion, at the empty tomb that Mary of Magdala, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James with some other women stood utterly at a loss. They bought spices and perfumes to prepare the body of Jesus. They did not find the body of Jesus. They were terrified. They reported this to eleven and others who would not believe them. (cf Lk 24:1-13) Did they weep?

After Easter, the disciples, walking on the road to Emmaus, felt grief and confusion that their friend, Jesus, had left them. They felt betrayed; they thought he was the one who would redeem Israel. It wasn’t until the disciples recognized him in the breaking of the bread that they were amazed and their hearts burned within them. (cf Lk 24:13-32) The wonder!

Before the Ascension, Jesus knew he must leave this world and return to his father. In Jesus’ “Farewell Discourse” he sought to ease the disciples’ troubled hearts. He told them to wait and promised the Holy Spirit would bring joy to ease their grief, weeping and mourning. Jesus prayed for them and unified them with him, “I in them and you in me, may they be perfectly one.” (cf John 13-17). The wait.

Pentecost, fifty days after Easter, celebrates when the disciples were all in one place. Suddenly there came a noise like a strong driving wind, filling the house. There appeared tongues of fire that rested upon all of them. The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they received supernatural abilities, empowering them to serve God and the church. (cf Acts 2: 1-4) The wonder!

In each of these events we see that the disciples suffered grief and loss. They waited in faith that they would see Jesus again. They witnessed miracles and experienced awe. And they were consoled. They worshiped.

As we celebrate God’s Holy Spirit this Pentecost, may we be reminded that we too, yearn for the presence of the Divine. We might weep, we will wait, we could be rapt in wonder, -- we are called to worship on this day and for all eternity. Jesus said, “I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” (John 16:22) 

--Jan

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