We are commemorating the Ascension of Jesus this
week.
Let's
ask ourselves what the Ascension of Jesus really
means.
Do
you know?
All: O Lord, make haste to help us.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
Psalm 86.4
All: Amen.
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O God, make speed to save
us.
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Song of Praise 'Lord, Every Nation on earth Shall Adore You' (John Michael Talbott)
THE WORD OF GOD Mark 16: 15-20
A Reflection On the Reading
I was
touched by a homily I heard and it might shed some light on
this question of the Ascension. The university where I work
would soon be vacant. Our presider mentioned how the
emptying of school affected him. A school is like a small
town, with patterns of life, new friends made, turnarounds
in relationships, all in regular/irregular rhythm of
life.
Suddenly the fabric comes to
pieces.
I think this is how the
disciples felt. The passion was the worst part, of course.
Then suddenly Jesus was alive again, in their midst. He had
truly died, and now he truly was back, with his real wounds
still in his body. If you looked closely, though, or if
— if you put your hand into his wounds like Thomas
did, you would have noticed that they were somehow
different now. It was as if they were burnished - the
wounds had become beautiful, made lovely by love. A simple
way to say it is that Jesus now was more real than
before.
And therefore life could go on just as it
was!!!!
Ah, no. Jesus could not stay
here as before. He had already travelled through the narrow
passageway of death—as you and I will have to do one
day. Jesus had given everything that he was and that he
possessed to the Father out of sheer love and now he was on
the way back to the dynamic, swirling, Trinitarian circle
of love from which his humanity had issued in the first
place. He lingered after the Resurrection only in order to
tell us about it, to comfort us, ease the
loss.
We
must not simply let go of someone we love and get on with
life as if nothing had happened. We have to grieve until we
slowly become accustomed. But if we let it happen, if we
let it, we discover a different fact; that our loved ones
remain within us. Their spirit stays inside
us.
RESPONSE
As We Prepare For the Coming of the
Spirit
(different persons
take different paragraphs, pausing between them)
Jesus
said, 'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' When he
had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and
a cloud took him out of their sight.
Acts 1.8,9
Afterwards
I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and
female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my
spirit.
Joel 2.28,29
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and
there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and
there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God
who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the
manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
I Corinthians 12.4–7
Likewise
the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how
to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with
sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart,
knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit
intercedes for the saints according to the will of
God.
Romans
8.26,27
The
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control. There is no law against such things. And
those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh
with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit,
let us also be guided by the Spirit.
Galatians
5.22 – 25
When
the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in
one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like
the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house
where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire,
appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them
ability.
Acts 2.1 – 4
The
Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces,
seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a
mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one
degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord,
the Spirit.
2
Corinthians 3.17,18
General Intercessions
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the
hearts of your people,
R/
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
For the Church: that we may
fulfill our calling to be the Body of Christ in the world
and continue Christ’s mission for all who are in need
...
For the grace to be fearless as we follow God’s call
and face new and challenging situations ...
For
those who face the future with apprehension and
uncertainty: that God will enlighten their minds and give
them peace ...
For
all nations and their leaders: that the reign of peace and
justice of God's rule may enlighten all who lead and govern
...
For
all who are dealing with the power of nature, especially
from storms, floods, and earthquakes: that the hearts of
many may be open to assist them ...
Creator
God, our minds and hearts were prepared for the coming of
your kingdom when you took Christ beyond our sight. May we
follow where he has led, and find our hope in his glory.
Forever. Amen.
Closing
Prayer
God of power,
may the boldness of your Spirit transform
us,
may the gentleness of your Spirit lead
us,
may the gifts of your Spirit equip us
to serve and worship you
now and always.
A New Zealand Prayer Book
The
Lord's Prayer is said.
The
Conclusion
On this day
of our Lord’s ascension, may the grace of the Spirit
enlighten our hearts and minds.
All
Amen.
CLOSING
PRAISE
'The
Spirit of the Lord' (from The Heart of Being
Brother CD)
Brother Nick Morris (Rome)