Amy and Ascension Day

Ascension Day 

Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Church celebrates the feast of the Ascension on Thursday, May 26. What is the Ascension? What is its theology, what is its spirituality, why does the Church mark this day?

You can read the texts appointed for the Ascension here. While we won't be gathering in person to mark this day together, I encourage you to pray through these texts and wonder what this event in Jesus' life means to you. Does it matter to you to celebrate and mark it in some way? Why or why not?

The liturgical calendar of the Church is meant, in my view, to provide us experiential access to events recorded in Scripture. Think of all the somber elements of a Good Friday service which point to Jesus' suffering and death. Think of all the festival elements of an Easter Day service which point to the celebration of Jesus' resurrection and triumph over death. To mark the Ascension is to mark the mystery of God's gift to us being fulfilled when Jesus is taken up to be with God. How might you mark this mystery of presence and absence, connectivity between death and life, love and loss? Amen.