This past Thursday was the festival day in the church year to celebrate the Ascension of Christ into heaven. Since this community was not gathered on that day we look at the related texts this morning. Now if you are not one to keep fairly diligent attention to the church calendar, this celebration likely went unnoticed. On the one hand the relatively low key nature of the day seems kind of odd since the ancient forbearers of the faith deemed the event so important that it is included in our most well known Christian creeds. "We believe he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father". That is a pretty heavy statement. And yet I looked and there is no Ascension candy for sale at the store. Perhaps worst of all there does not even seem to be a market for at least the most natural fit - Ascension balloons!

On the other hand, though, we must acknowledge that the whole idea behind this Ascension business leaves us with an image that is a little difficult for our modern sensibilities to deal with. We can grasp the idea of a baby being born. The reports of an empty tomb, while harder to comprehend, mark our faith. But levitation? Need I point out that for all the lessons provided by scripture...physics is not one of them!

At this point it is helpful to remember that the original intended audience for these texts was raised on a tradition of ascension. Moses ascended Mt Sinai and was gone 40 days, up in the clouds on the mountain, receiving the Law. And Elijah the prophet ascended up into heaven when his time as prophet was over. While these ascension texts don't fit into our 21st century world view very well, they fit the 1st century world view just fine. These texts connect Jesus with the traditions of Moses and Elijah, reinforcing his authority and his connection to the traditions of Israel.

Another layer of intrigue is the fact that the singular author of both Luke and Acts found the Ascension important enough to write two different versions of an event that is given notable, but lighter treatment in other gospels. Clearly something is going on here that Luke wishes to emphasize. Now, it is worth noting that despite the common authorship, there is some variation between the two accounts. In the gospel, Jesus leaves on the same day as the resurrection. In the Acts text he has been with them for 40 days. I will not use my time this morning to try and fix that discrepancy. Parts of scripture remain a mystery. Instead, let us look this morning at what insight each passage can provide into how God is speaking to humanity. Jesus' instruction in each text this morning guides our paths today.

In the order in which we heard the texts this morning, let's first put ourselves in the disciples' shoes and reset the scene from Acts for a moment. After all their hopes and expectations had been dashed on the cross, the risen Jesus has returned. It is easy to envision the disciples in especially rapt attention as he is back among them talking about the Kingdom of God and the impending arrival of the Holy Spirit. It is perfectly reasonable, then, to hear the disciples ask - "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?"

Jesus responds to this question with his first bit of teaching by making it clear to the disciples that they are focused on the wrong thing. "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."

Do not worry about the 'when' part - God is taking care of that. Rather, my disciples - worry yourselves with the job you are called to do - to go forth and be witnesses.

So here is where things stand so far: Jesus has addressed the question of who (his followers, empowered by the spirit), when (the final things will happen on God's time, so get to witnessing today), and where (here, there, and everywhere). The only thing left is the little matter of what, exactly, this witnessing is about.

This call to witness activates my Lutheran theological training and compels me to askWhat does this mean? There are, of course, multitudes of ways to witness effectively. On way in particular jumps out from Jesus' teaching in our gospel message this morning. "Thus it is written," says Jesus, "that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations".

The recording of these words from Jesus mark another emphasis in Luke's writings. The call to repentance and forgiveness merits special favor in this gospel. Scour the text of Luke and one finds that each time the word for sin is used, it is accompanied by the word for forgiveness. In fact, over half of all New Testament uses of the word forgiveness occur in the writings of Luke and Acts. Clearly, Luke recognizes this as a vital tool for expanding the Kingdom.

A woman I will call Anne had a powerful encounter with this particular form of witness. A little more than 30 years ago Anne's father was murdered in a tiny fishing village in Canada by his schizophrenic neighbor. Anne, 19 years old at the time, tried to intervene, but she was also attacked and injured by the assailant. I will let her words continue the story:

Filled with sadness and despair, I became completely consumed with anger, bitterness, vengeance, and self-pity. I was absolutely determined that this man would never, ever regain his freedom. The longer he was locked away, the greater the value of my father's life.

Then, on June 7, 1996, during a comprehensive campaign I'd organized to stop his release, I talked with him face-to-face. It was during this meeting, while learning more about him as a human being and the horrendous suffering that he'd endured, that everything changed.

I'd not heard of the term restorative justice then but in that face-to-face meeting, which lasted 1 hour and 40 minutes, 16 years and 10 months of misery was just wiped away. As he started to cry and said, "I'm to blame, I'm to blame", I couldn't take it anymore. I rushed around the table and hugged him, telling him that I forgave him. I remember saying to him, "Blame is too strong a word, blame is too strong a word."

I could never have imagined that in doing so, I would set myself free. Finally I was able to let go of all the pain and torment that had held me captive, realizing that I'd been my own jailer. My life changed as I began to see the world through new eyes. I felt joy again, the numbness was gone.

Forgiveness is not permission. It doesn't mean that you agree with what the offender has done, or that they had a right to do what they did...Forgiveness is recognizing that the offender is a human being who is deserving of kindness, compassion and love despite the harm they have done.

I have been on a long journey since seeing my father murdered. I have learned to let go. I have learned that vengeance is blindingI have learned that while my life could never be the same after the murder, it didn't have to be worse. That was a matter of choice, my choice. And, I also learned that murder cannot destroy hope, faith, or love.¹

In her expression of forgiveness Anne expanded the Kingdom just a bit further. For herself, she found joy again. Her interactions with others are forever altered by a new outlook. Through this expression of God's love, new life abounds!

Jesus' call today to repentance and forgiveness ends his earthly ministry among the disciples. Accepting the invitation to this calling keeps our attention focused on the work to be done here among our sisters and brothers. Through our repentance and forgiveness God provides opportunities to live into God's reign until such a time as God's full and final reconciliation encompasses the earth.

Our confidence in the possibilities that arise from answering the call to repentance and forgiveness is heightened by a couple of final pieces of information worth noting in this text from Luke. One is that Jesus tells the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the Spirit comes upon them. Well disciples, next Sunday we will come together to celebrate Pentecost-the day the Holy Spirit descends upon the church. It is a reminder that we are not alone in our efforts. We will acknowledge that the work we do as disciples in the church is led, empowered, and directed by the Holy Spirit.

Finally, notice that right in the middle of blessing the disciples "he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven." Jesus' blessing on the disciples never stoppedAnd it continues today. Even as we feel as if blessing is the last thing we deserve, it is actually the last thing we receive from Jesus as he ascends to heaven.

So, as we wait for the Holy Spirit's arrival for the church next week, dwell in the knowledge of this blessing. May it empower us to trust the Spirit and to follow wherever she leads.

Amen

 

¹ Story from http://theforgivenessproject.com/