Then [Jesus] said to [his disciples], “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

- Luke 24:44-53 (NRSV)

On Thursday 13 May, the church celebrated Ascension Day – the occurrence which the Bible reading above depicts, within the Easter season. The season of Easter is, for me, God’s provision of a gentle consolidation period, in which we absorb the reality and meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection in the light of Christ’s teachings and as the fulfilment of the law and the prophets. It is also a reminder that Easter comes with a missioning of us as disciples. We are to tell, in our lives and in our words, the reality of Easter, each day. Christ’s Ascension, specifically, is an occasion for our awe and wonder, and a gift to “strengthen our witness”, in the words of the Collect for Ascension Day:

Sovereign Lord,
your ascended Son fills the entire universe:
strengthen our witness that all may acknowledge his reign;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

REVD CLAUDIA COUSTAS
CHAPLAIN