Brothers and Sisters,
The Ascension is one of the major events of Scripture and the church year that, in my opinion, doesn’t quite get the attention it deserves. It’s important for many reasons, but the collect for this coming Sunday highlights a couple of points that I’d like to think about with you in this week’s newsletter.
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
First, the Ascension is linked with the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus makes that connection in John 16: “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” The Ascension isn’t a case of the Lord leaving us to our own devices. The Ascension is linked to the promise that, right now, the Holy Spirit is at work in our world: indwelling believers, convicting people of sin, and drawing people all over the world to faith in the ascended Lord, Jesus Christ.
That’s not all! The Ascension is about Jesus going to prepare a place for us in heaven. He didn’t leave us. He has simply gone before us to heaven where he lives as our perfect high priest and reigns as Lord of all creation, to ensure that, one day, we will be where he is forever. The Ascension means that all who are joined to him by faith will join him in heaven.
Thank God that Jesus Christ has been exalted with great triumph!
In Christ,
Fr. Caleb