"Watching the skies for Jesus...or missiles?" Reflection for Ascension Day 2018 in Jerusalem

REFLECTION FOR ASCENSION DAY 2018

Lutheran Church of the Ascension

Mt of Olives, Jerusalem

The Rev. Carrie Ballenger Smith

The Ascended Jesus
On the ceiling of Lutheran Church of the Ascension
Mt of Olives, Jerusalem

In the Acts of the Apostles, the story of Jesus’ ascension into heaven goes like this:

The disciples asked Jesus: “Is it time now? Is this the end? Is this when everything will be restored?”

And Jesus answered them: “It’s not for you to know the time. But the Holy Spirit is coming, and you will receive great power. Then you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth!”

Then, while the disciples were watching, Jesus was lifted up on a cloud and taken away into the heavens..

But the disciples kept standing there!

They kept looking for Jesus, even though he was already far away. In fact, their eyes were so focused on the skies above that they didn’t even notice when two men in white robes appeared next to them.

These men (angels, perhaps) said to the disciples:

“What are you looking at, guys? Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?”

Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?

The angels might ask us this same question today. Why are we looking up to the skies? There is so much work to do!

But some of you might answer: Of course we’re looking up! We have very good reasons!

Of course we look up to the skies—there are missiles flying overhead.

Of course we look to the skies—we hear the rumblings of war and rumors of war.

Of course we look to the skies—we are watching for rockets. We are watching for tear gas canisters. We are watching for bullets!

Honestly, what else can we do in this situation? Why can we do but look up to the skies, when it’s so full of danger?

I remember in the weeks after September 11, 2001, I couldn’t stop looking to the skies, either. Now I was living in Minnesota, far away from the attacks in New York and Washington and Pennsylvania. But I had seen the images of terror and destruction on television, and suddenly it seemed the skies everywhere were full of evil. Every time I heard the rumble of an airplane overhead—or what I thought might possibly be an airplane—my eyes would dart up, and I would search the skies for what I was certain would be the next terrible attack.

The truth is, even though I was a student of theology at the time, studying to be a pastor, I had started to believe more the power of fear, and in the authority of terrorists, than I did in the presence, power, and authority of God in the world.

It took some time before I remembered that Jesus promised he would not leave us abandoned.

It took some time before I remembered that Jesus said he would be with us always, unto the end of the age.

It took some time before I stopped looking up to the skies, paralyzed by fear, and started to look again to my family, and my neighbors, and my community, and remembered that whenever Jesus seems far away, this is where he can always be found. This is where we always see him—closer than we ever imagined.

This world, which God loves,

This world, where Jesus walked,

This world, which he has now entrusted to us to love and nurture,

Is where disciples are always called to focus our eyes, our hearts, and our energies—not the skies, and never our fears about the future.

Dear friends in Christ, today we are gathered on this mountain to remember that Jesus, crucified and risen, is also Jesus, ascended into heaven. He is no longer with us in the way he was with the first disciples. It’s true that he has left our sight!

But this does not mean we should now fix our eyes on the sin and evil of the world.

We do not watch the skies for disaster!

We do not watch the clocks for the end of the world!

We do not look to the news to tell us how to live or how to love.

Jesus has left our sight, but now our eyes are free to look to the beauty of God’s creation.

Jesus has left our sight, but now our eyes are free to see the poor, and ask how we can serve them.

Jesus has left our sight, but now our eyes are free to see our neighbor, and to recognize God’s image in her.

Jesus has left our sight, but he never leaves our side!

With Christ’s help—even when there are wars and rumors of war—we will never lose sight of the vision and mission he has left with us.

We will continue to be witnesses of his love—in Jerusalem, and to the ends of the earth!

Let us pray:

Risen and ascended Lord Jesus,                                                                                           

When we are numbed by the suffering of the world,                                                      

And frightened by war and rumors of war,                                                                        

Take us back to the deep truth
Of your power and glory, of your Kingdom,
Of your promise of reconciliation and peace.
In the knowledge of this truth,
Help us to bring our gaze to earth                                                                                         

Help us to focus our eyes on the needs of our neighbor                                                   

Give us strength to go into the world,                                                                                     

To remain in the world, 

and to build the kingdom of God
On earth as it is in heaven. Amen.