May 9, 2024 ~ Thursday, Week 6
~ Luke 24:50-53: Then [Jesus] led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up
his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew
from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and
returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in
the temple
blessing God.
Forty Days after Easter comes the Ascension of the Resurrected Christ into
Heaven. One of the five major milestones in the life of Christ ~ the others are
baptism, transfiguration, crucifixion, and resurrection.
The Ascension
is professed in both the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds.
Whether actual, mystical or metaphorical, it is one of the great feasts of
the Christian liturgical calendar. It signifies the completion of his earthly
presence as he takes his divine presence seated at the right hand
of the Father [Nicene Creed, Book of Common Prayer, 1979].
The readings
for today give us a direction for our own earthly lives. In the Acts of the
Apostles 1:11, we hear that as Christ's body was being elevated, suddenly
two men in robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you
stand looking up toward heaven?" From Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul
prays ...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ...may give you a spirit
of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of
your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called
you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what
is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe...
Holy Jesus, Son of God, as Your
Church we are now Your Body on Earth ~ Your
Hands and Your Feet, Your Eyes and Your Ears to carry out Your mission in our
own time. On this Ascension Day, let us ascend in our hearts, minds, and souls
and raise our own continual prayers that we may be fully Yours
in our thoughts, words and actions.
Help us
to be mindfully caring for all the People of God ~ all
colors, races, ethnicities, genders, all differences and similarities,
in every way they and we are created. Embolden us to follow Your command to
love one another in the unjudging, compassionate, unselfish, and generous way
we are also to love ourselves.
Guide our
steps as we seek to discover You in in every encounter, to understand that
ALL, Every, and Each of us are Created by God and worthy of our compassion for as
long as we have the Breath of Your Spirit within us. Grant us the wisdom to
know the hope to which we are called with the eyes of our enlightened
hearts, eager to be Your True Disciples following Your Way for All of Your
People. Amen. Alleluia!
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