Ascension of the Lord, May 17, 2015

(Acts: 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23 or Ephesians 4:1-13; Mark 16:15-20)

The Ascension marks the end of the appearances the crucified
Jesus made after his resurrection. Luke presents one such account of
how these appearances ended with his unique tale in Acts of how Jesus
ascended from the sight of the disciples. The question is raised by the
men dressed in white: Men of Galilee, why are you standing there
looking up into the sky? That becomes the real point of departure for
the Church to set out and proclaim the message of Jesus to the ends of
the earth.
Marks Gospel comes from the longer ending of Mark. Verses
9-20 were not found in early manuscripts of Mark and these verses
were not added until at least the second century. They contain clear
references to John and Luke and must be considered written under the
influence of those two Gospels. They add nothing to the sparse
information in the Gospels about what happened after the resurrection
of Jesus.
What really carries us into a vision of what the church is, or
should be, comes in Pauls reflections in the Ephesians letter. Two
possible passages are available for this feast but each is lofty in its
reflections on those who make up the church and what being part of
the church really means.
Ephesians 1:17-23 in Greek starts in the middle of a sentence
which began at verse 15. Many long sentences are found in this letter.
When translated into English, the preference is to break up Pauls
words into understandable ideas, so the section appears to have more
sentences than are found in the Greek original .The words form part of
a prayer Paul utters for the Ephesians. The ideas follow: May God
give you (2nd person plural) wisdom, knowledge and hope. May you
know (Gods) great power, who raised Christ from the dead and seated
him at Gods right hand where he is far above every principality,
authority, power and dominion. This knowledge can only come as a

gift. It is not something we come to by study or by somehow working

for it. It comes only as a free gift of God, sheer grace. Paul prays God
to give this to the Ephesians.
Paul notes that God has put all things beneath Christs feet (that is,
all things are subject to Christ) and made him head of the church,
which is his body. Paul uses many poetic expressions (May the eyes
of your hearts be enlightened and the surpassing greatness of his
power and the head of his body, the church). At the same time,
what is good for Christ is good for his body, the church, so that the
church shares in whatever belongs to Christ.
Ephesians 4:1-13 reminds them that Paul writes as a prisoner for
the Lord. He encourages them to live in a manner worthy of the call
they have received (as followers of Christ). He specifies the need for
humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance and striving to preserve
unity in the Spirit, through the bond of peace: one body, one Spirit, as
you were also called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one
faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all
and through all.
This seven-fold reflection on unity reflects the idea of perfect
unity, symbolized by the perfect number seven. The post-Ascension
organization of the church includes apostles, prophets, evangelists,
pastors and teachers to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry
until we attain perfect maturity in Christ. This is the work of the
Church in every age, not gazing heavenward, waiting for Jesus to
return.
Fr. Lawrence Hummer hummerl@stmarychillicothe.com