Dear Ones of St. Columba's,

   This evening, May 10th, we will keep one of the high feast days of our tradition: the Ascension of our Lord. This is a holy day that happens every year on the Thursday before the last Sunday of the Easter Season, and it marks the moment when Jesus ascended from the presence of the disciples to "sit at the right hand of God." 

  It's a striking image, described in Luke as Jesus being carried up into the heavens, and in Acts as Jesus going up into the clouds. In both accounts, if you close your eyes and picture it, Jesus' departure has a definite direction: up. But this idea that Jesus went up, up, and away isn't necessarily an accurate reflection of the theological reality of Jesus' departure. Here is the Collect for Ascension:

Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end
of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Notice in this prayer, that Jesus doesn't just go up and away. He ascends so that he might "fill all things." Jesus in his resurrected life is capable of loving, filling, and being part of all the world that God has made, and blesses, and loves.

I wonder what might change for you and I, if we took this seriously? If we really believed that all things have the potential to reveal Jesus to us, and all situations in our human lives are places to which Jesus has already ascended, and waits to meet us? 

Every Sunday I speak a dismissal at the end of our worship together. This Easter season I have been intentionally using words that I hope encourage all of us to feel more sent out, than dismissed. We also ascend into our lives each week, after we come together to meet God in the particular time, place, and space that is our Sunday worship. The purpose of this worship is to prepare us to be sent out to a world Jesus already inhabits, better prepared to know him when we meet him. 

So this week as we remember this transition in Jesus' life - from a particular man to the One who fills all things with light, life, and love, let's keep our eyes peeled for Jesus, and remember that there is no corner of our world or our lives where Love cannot be found. 

with care and gratitude,

Alissa