Thursday May 21st

The Ascension

Luke Chapter 24 verses 44-53

Jesus said to his disciples ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so, stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’

Then he 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 worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Reflection

Although it’s a red-letter day in the Christian year for many in our world the feast of the Ascension tends to pass without much attention. Having been educated in my early years at a Roman Catholic Convent school my thoughts about the day are permanently linked with having to attend a long and elaborate Mass in the morning but being rewarded with having the rest of the day off from studies. On a lighter note it’s also linked with a print of a famous painting adorning the walls of our convent chapel. The Ascension of Christ by the 16^th century German artist Hans Suss Von Kulmbach. The disciples look in on a mixture of wonder, terror, and disbelief as the disembodied feet of Christ dangle ethereally down through a cloud. For my 8-year-old imagination this did nothing whatsoever for my understanding of the Ascension, it just made it rather ridiculous. I have to confess even today when I look at the painting it still makes me giggle irreverently, (for those who are old enough to remember there’s a sense of Monty Python) just remember that foot, take a look and you may well see what I mean!

Over the last few years our thoughts about what the Ascension means have become more grounded. For Christians across the world the 11 day period between Ascension and Pentecost has been set aside as a time to reflect on Jesus words to his disciples ‘You will receive power and when the Holy Spirit comes you will be my witnesses’
(Acts 1:8)

Under the title ‘Thy Kingdom come’ this movement has grown into a world-wide wave of prayer (65 different denominations in 178 countries), a time of focusing on the different ways in which we can pray and invite the Holy Spirit to move in new ways amoung nations, countries, churches, communities and in people’s lives.

In the early church this period was set aside as a time of prayer and preparation especially for those who were about to take their first steps as Christians in the baptism services at Pentecost. The focus was on expectation and anticipation of all the great things God can do. When we stop to think about it this message is right on point just now. Out and about on my parish walks in various conversations people have said to me ‘I’ve been praying’. People who don’t necessarily come to church have found new ways of praying and realised that prayer is important. Sometimes it seems a time of crisis brings out the best prayers in us all, even those who have never prayed before.

This year our ways of praying will be very different, and ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ has been adapted for the various challenges of our coronavirus situation.

You can find lots of resources online, just put Thy Kingdom Come 2020 into the search box. 

But if, like me, you find the simplest things are often the best here are a few suggestions.

1. During the course of the next 10 days make a time to pray for 5 people. They could be family or friends, people in positions of responsibility, those working for the NHS, someone who is in your thoughts right now.

     You may like to use a simple prayer based on the word: ‘Bless’

Asking a blessing on:
Their physical wellbeing
Their work/daily life pattern
Their emotional wellbeing 
Their social wellbeing, relationships with their nearest and dearest, spouses or partners, parents, children, friends.

Finally pray for their spiritual life.
That wherever they are right now they will know that God is with them.
That they will gain a sense of fresh hope through a conversation, something they read or see or something they hear.
That those who have feelings of doubt or guilt will be able to recognise that God accepts all of us just as we are.

And most important of all that every one of us can know that sense of God’s love and forgiveness. As a famous poster slogan put it ‘Today is the start of the rest of your life’. Today can be a new beginning with God for anyone. It’s never too late to begin.

          — Body –
          — Labour –
          — Emotional –
          — Social –
          — Spiritual –

b   Another way of praying is to find five small stones (light coloured ones are best) and write the names of each person you wish to pray for on one of the stones.

Place the stones on your desk, bedside table or fireplace as a reminder to pray.          Alternatively, you could place each stone in a different room of your home and pray for each person as you enter or leave the room.

c Many of us over the past few weeks have been making a practise of lighting a candle at 7p.m. and saying a special prayer for health workers/carers and for others.

During the course of the next 11 days it would be good to re-visit this and re-double our efforts, remembering in our prayers not only issues related to coronavirus but praying for the coming of God’s kingdom and for the movement of God’s Spirit in the world, in our nation, in our churches, in our local communities and in our own lives.

There are many prayer suggestions online, but you may like to use the following prayer.

O God the source of all light,
May we bring salt and light to your world,
drawing out your presence in the everyday.
As we offer you our lives
shape us as your disciples,
that we may reveal your goodness
and reflect your light.
In Jesus name. Amen.

Or if you would like something really simple based on a very familiar prayer just listen to this short thought from Archbishop Dr John Sentamu.

Finally, for those who like a good sing on the following link you will find words written to celebrate ‘Thy Kingdom come’ to a very familiar tune.