Headed Home
Ascension of The Lord
Acts 1:1–11 / Psalm 47:6 / Ephesians 4:1–13 [4:1–7, 11–13] / Mark 16:15–20
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Reflecting on the Word
By Dr. Karla J. Bellinger
We are not told which two angels they were. But the assignment came from above: “Go and bring my Son home. Forever.” They talked it over. “Go and bring him home . . . ” What does that mean? They had seen him become flesh. They had rejoiced when they sang to the shepherds. They had marveled at the star. They had celebrated when the Word became flesh. It was amazing.
Now they are confused. “Bring him home.” This Jesus of Nazareth, so limited, so broken from human pain—this one is coming home? And bringing his human flesh with him—what does that look like? “Will he rot?”
“No . . . His resurrected body seems to be able to walk through walls, yet he can eat fish.”
“We have not seen this before.”
The ways of the Almighty could be confusing, but the angels had spent eons watching this story of stories unfold in surprising ways and through unexpected people. But this? The Word who had become flesh was not going to un-become flesh? This was new. But the order had come: “Go, bring him home . . . ”
They listened to Jesus give his last instructions. They shook their heads. First off, humans can’t drive out demons or drink poison or heal the sick. Most of all, these uneducated men from Galilee cannot spread this Good News and have anybody actually listen to them— humans kill prophets. Wow, Holy Spirit, you are going to have to bring some power!
And then . . . Jesus just went. And his followers stood there, stunned, looking up. And so the two angels gave the message: “He will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” Then the angel messengers quickly disappeared, curious to see how this was going to work.
Consider/Discuss
- Sometimes the ascension of Jesus can remind us of those whom we have loved who have gone away. Lots of people leave us. Yet God draws us into something new and inconceivable, untracked territory—Jesus becomes nearer to us now that he is gone. How can this be?
- How do hope and promise emerge through suffering? Who would we like to see when we go “home” forever?
Living and Praying with the Word
Dear God, you know that we are creatures of time and space. We live in a place. We measure our life by days and years. We cannot imagine what life is like after death, when we will no longer be limited by time and space. Yet this measureless reality is our hope and our happiness, for we will be with you in your boundless love forever. We praise you for that promise!