Up, up, and away…

Up, up and away, my beautiful, my beautiful balloon...that’s the song that pops into my head, and then plays over and over again in there, as I think about Ascension day. It’s the feast day when we celebrate Jesus’ ascension, when he was lifted up to heavens to dwell with God. I imagine him sorta floating in the air, gently moving from side to side, getting smaller and smaller until eventually he disappears. Like a beautiful, beautiful red balloon.

Ascension Sunday doesn’t get a lot of “air time” or attention in many Christian circles. I never even knew about this feast day when I was growing up, but I did confess with others every Sunday, that “he ascended into heaven.” This feast day is tucked in between two biggies-Easter and Pentecost, it’s kind of like the Preakness to the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. Yet we wouldn’t have Pentecost ~ or Easter ~ without it.

Imagine if, after his resurrection, he had not been lifted up. What then? Live on forever as a supernatural superhero that never ages and never dies? Or what if he had aged and died as most humans are expected to do? It’s likely nothing would have been written about him and passed on through the generations. But between his resurrection and the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost he is lifted up to heaven to live with God, so that we can know that there is life beyond this life, even if we can’t explain scientifically how it happens.

Maybe the disciples had an easier time understanding it than we do. This was only the latest extra-ordinary event they witnessed while in Jesus’ company. Strange things seemed to happen when Jesus was around. The blind saw. The lame walked. The dead came back to life. Jesus' presence alone seemed to elicit all sorts of supernatural happenings. Voices from heaven. Visits from prophets. Vacated tombs. So, perhaps, watching Jesus lifted bodily into heaven wouldn’t have been so unexpected.

Jesus told the disciples ~ had even explained to them more than once ~ that he would have to leave them. Yet, even in his absence they would not be alone. In his absence he had given them instructions ~ commandments ~ on how to live. We’ve been reading and reflecting on these proclamations throughout the Easter season. Abide in my love. Love one another as I have loved you. You are my friends if you do what I command you. Jesus has done these things and now it’s the disciple’s turn to abide in love and love one another to the ends of the earth.

‘Oh, how much easier it would be,’ the disciples may have thought, ‘if you would only take us with you.’ Yet that is not Jesus’ promise. Instead the promise he makes is that the disciples then and now will not be alone in the struggle. This difficult, and at times painful world, is beloved of God; and we are sent into this world to witness to the truth that God loves the whole world, even when the world runs contrary to God’s design or desire.

And, just as Jesus promised, we don’t have to do it alone. What first appears to be an abandonment is really an opportunity. Jesus’ absence makes room for the promised coming of the Holy Spirit. “You will be baptized by the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” And, filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples’ vision expanded. Looking side to side, they saw not only those next to them, but those a little farther away. They saw those who were different from them because of race or class or religion, but were in need of God’s love nonetheless.

Maybe the most unbelievable thing about the Ascension is that the disciples didn’t simply return to their old jobs and homes and routines after Jesus was lifted into heaven. Instead, they took a chance, looked each other in the eye, and waited together for whatever was to come. They stopped gazing upwards at the sky wondering about a promised future kingdom where God’s love reigns and began looking side to side, toward their neighbors, to make God’s reign of love come alive on earth.

Jesus promises that he will be present through the power of the Holy Spirit; and from that moment, and throughout all the faithful generations, his followers have been witnesses to Christ’s presence in the world to the ends of the earth. Whether at home or school, work or a place of volunteering, and whether the coming week brings challenges or blessings or some measure of each, God continues to be with us, to strengthen us and use us to care for each other and this world.

St. Teresa of Avila’s name is attributed to a modern poem that summarizes our post-ascension call beautifully.

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

Compassion on this world,

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,

Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,

Yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Christ has no body now but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

compassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Though we cannot explain it scientifically or understand it fully, we confess with other Christians around the world that “on the third day he rose again and ascended into heaven. His body we see and experience through the bodies and actions of others who witness in his name. Stop looking up; start looking out and you will see the body of Christ in action.

Christ is present in the Lakeview Lutheran Parish as we discern how to serve our neighbors in need. Already we’ve come together to serve a hot meal to the people who live in the encampments under the Lawrence Avenue bridge. Christ has no body but ours. Christ is present in our Anti-racism ministry, as we learn and discern, advocate and protest, teach and speak up for those experiencing discrimination and live in fear. Christ has no body but ours. Christ is present when Christians offer time, money and advocacy for refugees and immigrants and welcome them with open arms. Christ has no body but ours.

The angels asked, “...why do you stand here looking into the sky?” The mission-field Jesus calls us to is down here, in front of us, to our right and to our left. We are not abandoned, but given an opportunity to love fiercely and boldly in Jesus’ name. The Holy Spirit is with us now and empowers us to receive the fullness of God’s love and to share that love and peace with others. May go out this day to boldly serve in Jesus’ name right here in our neighborhood and to the ends of the earth.