ASCENSION
Usually, I like to preach simply and clearly. If my sermons were works of art, what you would see is a portrait sketched in bold strokes of black and white. Not today. I’m forced to paint in abstractions and impressions. Still I pray, the Holy Spirit will give you some solid gift to take home.
In elementary school, we learned George Washington was an exceptionally honest boy who couldn’t tell a lie, he did chop down the cherry tree. We learned, the Pilgrims sat down in peace with the Indians to eat the first Thanksgiving Dinner. We learned our American Ancestors moved West because they had Pioneer Spirit!
Only later did we learn, our American Ancestors moved West because they didn’t want to be governed, they didn’t want to be taxed and their neighbors just plain got on their nerves! Only later did we learn the Pilgrims were offended by the Indian’s heathen ways and decided if the Indian would not be converted, he would die. Only later did we learn, the story of George Washington’s confession to his father about the cherry tree – the story itself is a lie! Okay, “lie” is too harsh a word. It’s actually a “Myth”, a transcendant truth wrapped in enlightening fiction. Please, repeat; “Myth is a transcendant truth wrapped in enlightening fiction.”
I suspect the story of the Ascension is very similar in that while something transcendant happened, I don’t think it happened as perfectly as Luke would like for us to believe. Picture this, Jesus and the disciples go up the mountain. The prophet Elisha knew ahead of time his master (Elijah) was going to be taken to heaven. Just so, the disciples know Jesus is going to be taken away. The mood is somber, they’re relishing every last moment with him. They hang on his every word, they say their words of farewell, they pray. All too soon the clouds part, the very Heavens open up and the voice of God says; “Son! I’m sorry but Elijah took the keys to the chariot of fire and went to the annual hotrod convention. You’re gonna have to walk home.”
My point is the Ascension is a really strange story. Why would God pick up Enoch and Elijah (and according to Jewish tradition Moses) in a very flashy, authoritative way for everyone to see – but leave his own beloved Son, the King of Kings! to depart in a very different way?… I don’t have to tell you, the Twenty-first century mind balks at the idea that the earth is flat, that God is an old man who sits on a throne in the Kingdom of Heaven somewhere up there, above the clouds. How far? We don’t know, because the Hubble satellite hasn’t found it yet… Which is, I think, exactly the reason the angels came to the disciples and asked; “Why are you standing around looking at the sky?” The rest of the story and mission aren’t going to be found there. Okay, so where do we look?
Let’s begin with the reading from Daniel. This reading is a picture of Judgment Day and on the surface, could be quite frightening. After all, look at how the Father is portrayed; he’s Ancient, all-knowing, he sits on a throne and fire flows out from his presence! Worst of all, the books are opened and our every flaw, every sin is laid out before his judgment. Surely punishment, maybe eternal punishment is going to come thundering down upon us and boy it’s gonna hurt!… But you know? That is not what it says.
What does it say? The books are opened for judgement. The “horn” is speaking arrogant words. Then the beast is put to death… Most scholars interpret the “horn” as being a leader and the beast as being a corrupt governing system. I find it interesting, God does not smite the horn, he doesn’t wipe the leader out and cast him to hell. Rather, he wipes out the system. And as for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away… What I see here is a picture of mercy. Mercy and justice for the poor, widowed, orphaned and oppressed – who are given relief from the oppressive system. Mercy, too, for God’s other “misguided” children.
Next, Daniel describes “one like a human being” presented before God. “To him was given dominion, glory and a kingship that shall never be destroyed.” We Christians interpret this as prophecy, foretelling the reign of Christ… So Jesus is coming into his own, given the title of “King of Kings”. The question is, what is he going to do with that authority?
Psalms gives us a clue. “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizadek.” We Christians understand this verse to be another prophecy, foretelling the role of Christ. So, why is he not a priest in the order of the “Levites”? And, who is Melchizadek anyway? Genesis tells us Melchizadek was a Gentilepriest, one that both Gentiles and the Hebrew-forefather Abraham honored as a genuine priest of God… So we see that Christ will be honored by Jew and Gentile alike. Furthermore, Psalms says he will “rule over his enemies.” It’s kinda hard to rule over your enemies if you’ve exiled them to another kingdom (Hell) or if you’ve killed them. So what we have here is yet another picture of mercy. Jesus will “rule over his enemies,” not only as king but as reconciling priest.
This incredible act of mercy cannot be seen as weakness. One cannot have mercy on his enemy if he’s weak, vulnerable to the point of being overpowered or killed. No! Such fantastic mercy can only be worked from a position of strength, security, absolute authority. This is why Ephesians said: “God put this power to work in Christ… seated him at the right hand… far above all rule, authority, power and dominion. That Jesus’ name is above every name.”
How can this be? What is this power that puts Christ above all rule, authority, power and dominion? We could say: God can do anything he wants, that’s why we call him God! But that’s a circular logic that doesn’t really tell us anything. Our Gospel gives us a clue, it tells us when the disciples finally quit staring at the sky, “they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.” Ephesians gives us another hint about how Jesus will be able to “rule” over all things, about the nature of this power. Verse 23 says; “God has put all things under his feet… who fills all in all.” That’s worth repeating, say it with me; “God has put all things under his feet… who fills all in all.” The POWER we’re talking about, the Power that raised Christ from the dead, the Power that gives him dominion and authority, the Power that enables Christ to fill all in all is the Holy Spirit. This is the good news! This is what we have to look forward to folks, the Church as the Bride of Christ gets to look forward to the consummation of the Marriage. There’s more mythical language for ya. We get to look forward to some kind of Union with Christ, who fills all in all.
The Book of the Law demands every fact be established on the testimony of two witnesses. We’ve seen the testimony of Scripture. That by the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ was raised from the dead, ascended and by the Uniting Power of the Holy Spirit will establish an everlasting Consummation with us… Now, let’s bring in the other Witness. The Rosary.
1st Joyful Mystery – The Annunciation. Gabriel declares: “Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee!” And, would like you to be mother of his only begotten son, the Savior Jesus Christ.”… For those of you who are suspicious of Mariolotry, let me tell you – wherever you see Mary you see yourself. What I mean is, she is celebrated as the first disciple and whatever happens to her prophecies what will happen to us… In this first mystery, God is declaring his undying love not only for Mary, but for all of us. He not only wants Mary to bear Jesus, but all of us to bear Jesus. John the Baptist and St. Paul both said; “He must increase, I must decrease. It’s no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me!” The Spirit of God brings oneness.
2nd Joyful Mystery – Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth. God’s blessings, more importantly, the good news of God’s love compels us to seek one another out, to serve, to share, to become one in joy. The Spirit of God brings oneness.
3rd Joyful Mystery – The Nativity. It’s not enough that Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth and Zechariah have shared the joy of God’s blessings and love. The good news must bring together; angels, shepherds, kings, even animals and all creation in a singing, dancing celebration!… Don’t forget. Jesus said in Matthew 12:50; “Whoever obeys the will of the Father is my Mother…” He, himself, has declared that we must all give birth to him, bear him to the world – a world that will rejoice in his Presence. The Spirit of God brings oneness.
4th Joyful Mystery – The Presentation. Here, Joseph and Mary bring Jesus to the Temple and to the priests for inspection and for circumcision… We too, when we give birth to Christ, must bring him and present him to God and the Church Community. The Spirit of God brings oneness.
5th Joyful Mystery – The Finding in the Temple. Here Joseph and Mary, having lost their son and searching for him over 3 days, finally find him carrying on conversations with the scholars in the Temple… Jesus will always bring us back to the Temple. The Spirit of God brings oneness, with God and one another.
1st Luminous Mystery – Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan. Here’s your promise and confirmation that God and every Baptised Christian will meet you in the Baptismal water. The Spirit of God brings oneness.
2nd Luminous Mystery – The Wedding at Cana is a party. A sign that God’s presence and blessings are among us not only when we’re in the Temple, but also when we’re in the “secular” world. Here, Jesus transforms water into wine. The “ordinary” into something “extraordinary”, the “secular” into the “sacred”, you and me into a oneness with God.
3rd Luminous Mystery – Proclamation of the Kingdom. Just in case you didn’t get it the first time, here’s the Annunciation again. God crying out; Hear the Good News! I love you and want to be one with you!… And here I remind you of what today’s Gospel said: “Jesus said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.’” Not just to all people, but to everything that exists! The Lord fills all in all. The Spirit of God brings oneness.
4th Luminous Mystery – The Transfiguration. For the Jews, all Scripture and Divine Authority are found in “The Law and the Prophets”. Here, Jesus (the New Covenant) is seen standing bright and shining, shoulder to shoulder in the company of Moses (the Law) and Elijah (the Prophets). Here, we see the Spirit of God bringing oneness between the Jews and the Gentiles.
5th Luminous Mystery – Institution of the Eucharist; The body and blood of Christ separated, broken and consumed then, resurrected and made alive within each of us. It’s a prophecy of Pentecost and a prophecy of the great oneness the Spirit of God has yet to bring.
The Sorrowful Mysteries are as follows;
Christ’s agony in the Garden.
Christ’s scourging at the pillar.
Christ Crowned with thorns.
Christ Carrying the Cross.
Christ’s crucifixion and death.
All pictures of Christ suffering rejection, hatred, terrible loneliness, alienation, oppression, persecution, martyrdom. All of which, Christ endured so come the final Judgment, we wouldn’t have to.
Finally, the Glorious Mysteries;
The Resurrection; Christ has defeated death and promised we’ll join him in eternity. The Spirit of God brings oneness.
2nd Glorious Mystery – The Ascension. Christ journeys to Heaven, receives his rightful authority and Kingship. In other words, to receive POWER (the Holy Spirit) to establish his kingdom on earth.
3rd Glorious Mystery – Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Remember the Tower of Babel? Where humankind said we will build a tower that will reach heaven? God not only cursed their arrogance but also defeated their plan by making each one of them speak a different language! What a picture of misunderstanding, alienation, separation! At Pentecost, we see that very curse reversed! The Evangelists are all speaking Aramaic, but each foreigner hears the Evangelist in his own language – the Evangelists are said to be speaking in tongues. The Spirit of God brings understanding, harmony, oneness.
4th Glorious Mystery – the Assumption of Mary. Traditionally, Catholics believed Mary was bodily taken up to Heaven, like Enoch, Elijah and Moses were… Remember, what happens to Mary as 1st disciple is a prophecy of what will happen to us. The Assumption of Mary extends to us the hope of the Resurrection and Ascension, of the Spirit of God bringing us all into oneness.
5th Glorious Mystery – The Crowning of Mary. Here, we’re all seen to have received our reward. The Spirit of God has brought us into that Divine Union that we do not yet understand, that Consummation we cannot speak of now – but can only hint at through the language of myth.
