Post Ascension

Matthew 28. 16 - 20

And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

With these words, Jesus ascended into heaven; his earthly mission ended and the mission of the church began. In the words of John O'Donohue, the disciples were "on the threshold of being and becoming." Whether the disciples knew or not, I am not sure...but in a period of time the Holy Spirit would descend upon them anointing them to go out into the world to proclaim the gospel and build the church.

What is it like for us 21st century folk to linger here between the Ascension and Pentecost? I can't get the picture of Jesus' bleeding feet ascending into the clouds out of my mind. As a wise friend said "it is the wounded human condition which Jesus takes into heaven." Such comfort to be reminded that the love of Christ heals our wounded condition.

And yet hindsight is 20/20 because we know that with Pentecost comes God the Sustainer, the Holy Spirit who will be God with us "always to the end of the age." With that knowledge, what are we called to do this Ascensiontide as we await the coming of the Holy Spirit? Where can we stand with bare feet offering our hearts and our hands to the world in need? Where in the world is the understanding of the peace that passes all understanding needed and how can we share the truth that God's Love is with us to the end of the age? Where must we become the hands and feet of Christ?