Ascension Day- Acts 1:1-11; Luke 24: 44-53

 This year, Thursday, May 29, is Ascension Day, the fortieth day after Easter. The Ascension is an important teaching of Scripture (Luke 24; Acts 1; Matthew 28; Mark 16; John 20; Ephesians 1 & 4), and it is a core Christian belief affirmed in the ancient creeds. Unfortunately in our time, this key event in Christ's ministry is often overlooked, and it deserves more attention.

Among the many meanings of the Ascension of Christ, here are three key points. 1) The Ascension marks the end of Jesus' Resurrection manifestations to the band of original disciples, the completion of His earthly ministry, and Jesus' return to His heavenly Father. 2) The Ascension also points toward and prepares for Pentecost. As Christ tells His followers more than once in the "Farewell Discourses" in the Gospel according to John, His return to the Father will lead to a new and powerful working of God the Holy Spirit among them. Christ's return to heaven means that the mission of His disciples can become less local and more universal. 3) Christ's Ascension also means that His followers have a heavenly mediator and intercessor at the right hand of the Father. From heaven, our Lord Jesus Christ watches over us in all places and at all times. He intercedes for our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being and for our eternal salvation. 

Thus, we see that Christ's Ascension ties many Christian beliefs together. It reminds us of all that Jesus Christ has done and is doing to pour His grace into our lives. It is an affirmation of Jesus' earthly ministry and His Resurrection. It is a kind of seal of divine approval on the Incarnation. The Ascension is also a concrete illustration of His continuing work as our unique heavenly intercessor and mediator. In addition, as the angels tell the disciples in Acts 1, the Ascension is a reminder of the Christian hope that Jesus Christ will come again to complete earthly history. Thanks be to God for our crucified, risen, and ascended Savior!

Easter 6 (year C)- John 16:33

The Gospel appointed for this Sunday (John 16:23-33) is from Jesus' Farewell Discourses on Thursday night before His crucifixion, and it is especially appropriate for the Sunday before the Ascension. The theme is in the words, "Whatever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you" (16:33b). This is a bold claim and has been misunderstood by some. Using Christ's name in Christian prayer is an ancient and laudable practice, but the real meaning goes beyond certain liturgical formulae. We truly pray in Christ's name when we approach the Father in Christlike humility. Such prayer includes the attitude of Christ in Gethsemane: "nevertheless not what I will but what thou wilt" (Mark 14:36b). What the Father gives us is through our participation in Christ and in accord with His great purposes of redemption. When we pray in that spirit, God is doing greater things for us than we, in our human limitations, can comprehend.

The Sixth Sunday of Easter was traditionally called Rogation Sunday (from a Latin word for prayer), and our Gospel was applied in a special way to encourage processions and litanies for good planting and crops. At the time of the 16th-century Reformation, practices were simplified, but Rogation Sunday continued as an occasion of prayers for agriculture. Although many modern people are far removed from the agricultural way of life, it is good for us to continue to be aware of and pray for the natural cycle that sustains earthly life.  Furthermore, as we approach Ascension Day, it is appropriate that we be more aware of Christ as our heavenly Intercessor; it is in His name and spirit that we are to offer up all our prayers.

Easter 5 (year C)- John 16:12-22

The Gospel for this Fifth Sunday of Easter is John 16:12-22. Like some other selections during this season, these verses are from our Lord's Farewell Discourses to the Twelve on the Thursday evening when He was handed over to Jerusalem authorities. In these discourses, our Lord is responding to the misunderstandings and worries of the disciples. He is about to go away (first through His Passion and Death, later through His Ascension). He strengthens and encourages His followers by speaking of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. In John 16:13, Jesus says, "when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth..." (KJV). Then in John 16:15, Christ asserts, “All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he [the Holy Spirit] shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

The situation of the disciples changes. Jesus is no longer with them in the flesh, but the work of the Holy Spirit will continue Christ’s earthly ministry.  The Holy Spirit is not confined by location, ethnicity, language, or time. The Spirit guides believers into truth. Yet, this truth is not some new message. It is the same eternal truth that has been revealed by God the Father to Israel over the ages. And it is the same truth revealed in the earthly life of Jesus Christ. 

So the truth is Trinitarian. It comes from God the unseen heavenly Father. It has been made known by the divine Word over the ages and finally become incarnate in Jesus. This same eternal truth also works through the Holy Spirit. It will continue to work in the world until the end of history. The Spirit of Truth works in many ways, but chiefly He works through the Scriptures. He works in the church as the community of believers, and He works in the lives of faithful individuals.

Our verses from John 16 proclaim a simple and clear basic point. The work of the Spirit comes from God the Father, and it is consistent with the revelation of Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of God. The work of the Holy Spirit is not a new or separate revelation; it is a series of living applications of the divine truth already revealed, especially revealed in Jesus Christ. This is good news!

Easter 4 (year C)- Good Shepherd- John 10:22-30

 On the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the Psalm and the Gospel reading point us to the theme of Christ as the Good Shepherd. In other years, the Gospel for this Sunday consists of the first paragraphs of John 10. In those verses, Jesus focuses upon His identity as the Good Shepherd, upon His laying down His life and taking it up again for the sake of His flock. In this year's selection from John 10:22-30, our Lord focuses upon the application to His followers.  Key verses are John 10:27-28 (ESV) where Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." 

These Gospel verses emphasize the dominion of the Good Shepherd over His sheep. His divine rule is assuring. Many Christians have spoken about assurance, but sometimes they have seemed confused about where Christian assurance lies. Some locate assurance in church structures or human ceremonies. Some locate assurance in good behavior. Some others locate assurance in emotions or feelings. While appreciating church tradition, moral conduct, and personal feelings may be helpful at times, such human factors are not the source of true Christian assurance. The basic foundation of Christian assurance is Jesus Christ Himself and in His gospel expressed in Holy Scripture. Our verses from John 10 point us to this foundation. Faithful followers of Christ cannot be snatched from His hands. Our true assurance is in the eternal Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, God the Son, our Lord, our Savior, our Good Shepherd!

Easter 3 (year C)- John 21:1-19

 The Gospel for this Third Sunday of Easter is John 21:1-14 (15-19). The passage begins with the miraculous catch of fish. This miracle is meaningful in itself and recalls a similar catch near the beginning of Jesus' ministry (Luke 5). Both catches of fish show Jesus' lordship over nature, and both have implications for the disciples' vocation and mission. Yet, because of the Resurrection, there is even greater significance on this occasion recorded in John.

After Jesus' earthly ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection, the risen Christ gives the apostolic group a new perspective. Besides reminding them of His dominion over nature, Jesus offers them a sign of reconciliation. That is, He offers table fellowship through a breakfast of bread and fish. After the meal, Jesus devotes special attention to Simon Peter. Of course, outspoken Peter had lost his nerve during Christ's Passion and denied the Lord three times. Thus, in John 21, our Lord asks if Peter loves Him three times and calls him to ministry three times. Through this event, Peter is re-established in his apostolic vocation and prepared for his future mission by the risen Christ.

So we see the Easter theme of the restoration of the Apostles. Despite their human failings, Peter and the others are reconciled, reminded of their previous calling, and prepared through Christ's final teaching and fellowship. They are called again to serve the risen Lord. Every Christian needs to hear this message from our risen Lord. We all have been poor followers of Christ in one or more ways, but He does not give up on us. He keeps calling us and restoring us. May the grace of the risen Christ renew our sense of vocation and mission during the Easter season!