Readings:
Acts 1:6-14;
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35;
1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11;
John 17:1-11

Collect:
Almighty God,
you raised our Lord Jesus Christ to his throne on high.
As we rejoice in his exaltation,
fill us with your Spirit that we may go into the world
to faithfully proclaim the Gospel of new life for all.
This we pray through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Reflection

In our world today, it’s just too hard to imagine. By today, I mean the last few hundred years or so, culminating in Yuri Gagarin, the first person in outer space in 1961, who is reputed to have said: “I don’t’ see any God up here.” Whether or not he actually said those words, he’s right. There is no door or gate up there beyond which a throne or another world is to be found. God is no more “up there” than  “down here”, which is why we have Pentecost hot on the heels of the Ascension, two significant festivals in the life of the Church, and each loaded with important imagery that is now not very familiar to our way of thinking any more.

So, how might we appreciate those words in Acts today: “… as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight”? The Feast of the Ascension, which encapsulates this moment, is not about Jesus rocketing up into outer space. This is figurative and metaphorical language (what else do we have for an event like this?) and an image recognizing and affirming that Jesus is now exalted and reigns, is God and is with God.

This is technical and complicated language, but please don’t be put off by it. There is a profound and challenging moment to consider here, even life changing. At the coronation of Charles III just two weeks ago, the ceremony recognized and proclaimed his status. That we participate in a parliamentary monarchy actually leaves him with not much authority or power – he acts only under the authority of parliament. While King Charles does not have real political power, we know that there are monarchs who, still today, rule absolutely, who claim for themselves the power over the life and death of all their subjects, who claim the wealth and resources of their territories for themselves, to be used only as they determine and please. We have some insight as to what absolute monarchy means. We know of such people and places. These are not places in which to live willingly, unless one belongs to the favoured and illustrious few, the inner circle.

Imagine living under such an exalted and absolute monarch, but one who has the interests of every person living in their domain as a priority. Imagine living under such an exalted and absolute monarch who treats everyone with the same respect and dignity. Imagine living under such an e xalted and absolute monarch who gives life and brings peace. This is what we proclaim at the Ascension. This is the life to which we are called and the life we are given. In Jesus, God does not reserve the best for a few, does not exclude anyone, but ensures life is shared by all. This monarch does not take from others but gives to all. This is one in whom there is life, and who gives life to all.

Today we proclaim Jesus is enthroned. At Pentecost we celebrate that we are given to share the life that belongs to all.

Barry Lotz