Reflection
Worship Gathering in the Midst
Seventh Sunday of Easter (May 24, 2020)
Scripture Focus: The Acts of the Apostles 1:6-14
What is the Heart of the Matter for Sunday?
“Open the Eyes of My Heart”
Sunday’s Scripture brings us to the Ascension of Jesus.
The … what?
We don’t really talk about the Ascension in the United Church of Christ. In fact, the only time I remember reading and hearing about it was when I was involved with the Episcopal Church.
The Ascension refers to the day, 40 days after Easter, 40 days after the resurrection appearances of Jesus, when Jesus gives his final teachings in-person to his disciples, and then, departs from them: “as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight” (Acts of the Apostles 1:9, NRSV). Jesus ascends into heaven on a cloud!
What do you make of this miraculous event? What do you think the disciples thought, watching as Jesus disappeared into the sky? That must have been quite a sight!
What will they do now, without Jesus with them, teaching them, leading them, instructing them?
What do we do with this story?
Let’s pray that God opens the eyes of our hearts to reveal the rest of the story, then and now, and our place in it, especially during these times of staying home.
Join us on Sunday for our Worship Gathering in the Midst!
~ With Peace, Grace, and Love in the Time of Coronavirus,
Rev. Stacy