Date: 5/11/2004
Time: 11:04:33 AM
Before he ascends into heaven, Jesus promises that the missionary work of the disciples will spread from Jerusalem to all the world. Jesus' words provide an outline of the book of Acts.
Date: 5/17/2004
Time: 7:16:37 PM
I don't know what to do with it but I really love the image of the disciples standing there with their mouths gaping open, looking up at the sky. It took a couple of angels to redirect their attention and then what they said would have only deepened their confusion. Avis in KY
Date: 5/18/2004
Time: 2:42:18 PM
It seems to me that in both this and the Luke text Jesus is essentially telling the disciples, "OK, folks, I've done all that I can to prepare you for what you are supposed to do next. You know what to do and you are ready to do it. Now get to work!"
I kind of like the concept of "Now get to work" for this Sunday. I will be baptizing 3 youth on this Ascension Sunday, 2 of which will be confirmed next week. So often it seems that we see people coming for Baptism or Confirmation who seem to think that once they've done those things they are done with "church stuff." What I want to stress is that Baptism & Confirmation mark the real beginning of the work we are called to do as members of Christ's Holy Church. Any ideas out there?
Robbie in KS
Date: 5/19/2004
Time: 7:21:23 AM
Robbie "Beginning Well" by Gordon Smith was really helpful to me. Talks about how all the elements of a healthy conversion remain active throughout the process of our sanctification. Baptism is the sacramental aspect of our conversion and it continues throught our lives in communion. It's an excellent book (IMHO!) well worth a look anyway. MCE
Date: 5/19/2004
Time: 11:20:54 AM
It is possible for us to be in a place between the Resurrection and Pentecost. On the one hand, we may know Jesus, on the other hand we have no idea "What's next?" or "So what?"
One of the misconceptions is our misconception in regard to the Kingdom Establishment. Some look to Social Justice to establish the Kingdom on earth, some wait for Divine Sovereignty to establish the Kingdom in heaven. Here Jesus did NOT clear up the misconception of "is this the time"; but He pointed them to a far more excited reality with the power of the Holy Spirit and the spreading a community of His witness through out the earth.
It's ironic that the misconceptions were not clear up even after Jesus pointed the direction for the disciples. For thousands of years after, the churches are still getting stuck in one tangent or another. Some continue to stand there looking up toward heaven, some completely forget that He would be back.
What about us, what about me? Lord Jesus, help me to strike a balance among these creative tensions in our understand of "What's next". Help us to look to the daily presence of your Spirit, so that we can simply be your witness in wherever we are through out the earth.
Coho, Midway City
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