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May 4, 2008 - 7th Sunday of Easter
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will
restore the kingdom to Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or
periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But 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. While he was going and they were
gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of
Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from
you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a
sabbath day's journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs
where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas,
Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of
James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain
women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
-- Acts 1:6-14
It has been forty days since Easter Sunday when we celebrated Jesus' miraculous
resurrection from death. Today we mark "Ascension Day", celebrating Jesus' ascension from
earth to return to God until he returns again "in the same way". Ten days will pass until
we gather on the Day of Pentecost, celebrating the dramatic coming of the Holy Spirit to
the disciples. For ten days we can imagine the wondering and waiting of the disciples and
women in that upper room.
We long for a sense of Jesus' presence here with us. On some level we can relate to the
disciples wanting to know more (is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to
Israel?) as well as their looking to heaven for answers. Things can seem pretty chaotic
here on earth, especially if we allow ourselves to be caught up in the fear and frantic
pace of our culture.
But the Spirit has come and we are not without God's presence here on earth. Whenever
we feel otherwise we can follow the disciples lead and devote ourselves to prayer. God is
near. God is here. Listen prayerfully for God's abundant presence.
We pray: O God of glory, your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us and ascended
to your right hand. Unite us with Christ and each other in suffering and in joy, that all
the world may be drawn into your bountiful presence, through Jesus Christ, Amen
Lessons for the 7th Sunday of Easter:
- Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
- Acts 1:6-14
- 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11
- John 17:1-11
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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