Daniel 7:9-14

Psalm 47

Acts 1:1-11

MARK 16:9-15, 19-20

Ascension Day Sermon – May 5, 2005

So what day is today? Chances are, more people on the street may answer, “Cinco de Maio” than answer “Ascension Day.” Both celebrate historical events, but Ascension Day celebrates a slightly more important event: the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven forty days after his resurrection.

In our reading this evening from Acts, Luke portrays this quite literally, just to underline the point that something definite happened and that it means something for us. So, what does the ascension of Christ into heaven mean? Let me offer three points.

First, the original disciples were no longer to expect any more tangible, surprise resurrection appearances by Christ such as those they had experienced in the previous forty days. Christ rose from the dead and “presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs,” as Luke puts it. If they didn’t believe in his resurrection after forty days, yet more resurrection appearances by Christ probably would not have made a difference. Even more important, it was time to get on with the mission of being a follower of Christ: to be a witness to Christ’s power and love and how they could and should change lives and the world. If Jesus had not definitely said, “don’t look for my tangible presence anymore” they might have just sat around waiting to break bread with him again. And if Jesus hadn’t definitely said, “You will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be my witnesses,” the disciples might have sat around and said, “What do we do now?” and just turned into a nostalgia society, reminiscing about “the good old days with Jesus.”

So, Christ had to leave in the physical sense for all of us to get on with our ministries.

The second thing that Ascension Day means is that we are reminded that Christ is not confined to one time or place, but is supreme over all times and places – and is free to visit them all, including galaxies far, far away.

The mystical vision in the reading from Daniel takes us far beyond First Century Palestine – or this church – or our own living rooms. He is our Savior, true – but not just ours!

Third, Ascension Day reminds us, as the angels told the disciples at the end of the reading from Acts, that Christ will come again. This is good news – for those who love and serve God and other human beings. Once again, we are reminded that “it’s time to get on with our ministries” – and that there will be an evaluation of them, and of all creation, by Christ at The End of Time. Once again, this reminds us not to try to “domesticate” Jesus into merely our own Savior, but to revere him as the Judge of the World.

Ascension Day is a time for awe, reverence, remembering – and then going about the business of serving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves, for we have been empowered – and commanded – to do so.

(The Rev.) Francis A. Hubbard

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church