May 17, 2015
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
First Reading: Acts 1:1-11
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051715-ascension.cfm
“Parting is such sweet sorrow.” So says Shakespeare’s Juliet from her balcony. But if I were one of Jesus’ disciples, I would terribly alarmed that the Son of God, who died and rose again was going to say goodbye. In this Sunday’s first reading, we get a front-row seat at Jesus’ last conversation with the apostles before he ascends into heaven. They don’t quite know how to take it, but this scene sets the stage for the proclamation of the gospel, the birth of the Church and Jesus’ final return.
Volume Two
This reading is the very first part of the very long Book of Acts. Oddly, Acts is actually “Volume Two” of a two-volume work, Luke-Acts, so this is actually a second introduction in the middle of that larger writing. Luke is an educated man writing to a man named “Theophilus,” who might be sponsoring Luke’s writing activity. We don’t really know who he is, but he’s a person of importance. Interestingly, his name means “God-lover” or “beloved of God,” which could be an honorary title, but it was a real name too.
Luke helps out Theophilus by briefly recapping Volume One, which describes Jesus’ earthly ministry. It also recounts what happens after the Resurrection—Jesus shows himself to his disciples repeatedly and demonstrates his physical resurrection through “many proofs.” During this post-resurrection time, Jesus continues to teach his disciples, but it seems the main focus of his teaching at this time is about the Holy Spirit. He tells them to wait in Jerusalem, where they will be “baptized” with the Holy Spirit.
Flawed Expectations
Right before he ascends into heaven, the disciples ask him one last question: “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Act 1:6 RSV) It’s a dangerous question that reveals some problems with the disciples’ expectations. On the one hand, maybe they still don’t get it—they still think Jesus is going to set up a human kingdom and reign as a human king over a restored Jewish monarchy. That’s not what he has in mind. On the other hand, maybe the question is there to clue us into something mysterious: Jesus inaugurated his kingdom with his resurrection and ascension, but it will not come to total fulfillment until he returns from heaven. This “already, but not yet” dimension to Christianity can be frustrating. In many ways, the kingdom has already come, Jesus has already won, but we still live in a world of problems, suffering, pain, and sorrow. Only when he returns will the victory be complete. We live in an in-between time in the history of God’s saving work.
Spread of the Gospel
Rather than scold the disciples for their impertinence, Jesus dismisses the question and offers a promise: the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will come and “baptize” the apostles with his power so that they will be enabled to proclaim the gospel to others. While the Gospel of Luke began and ended in Jerusalem, the Book of Acts has a different geographic trajectory, which Jesus predicts here. First, the disciples will preach in Jerusalem (Acts 1–7), then in Samaria (Acts 8), then to the ends of the earth (Acts 9-28). Acts begins in Jerusalem, goes through Samaria, and ends in Rome—the epicenter of the pagan world. Jesus is departing from the apostles and launching the final stage in his plan of salvation: the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles.
Just as it seems like victory is within grasp for those who wanted a restored human kingdom, Jesus leaves. His kingdom will not be made up of officials and taxmen and soldiers, but it will be a spiritual kingdom composed of believers, foolish in the eyes of the world yet empowered by the Spirit. This kingdom will be universal, offering salvation to all who will repent and believe. Jesus launches his disciples out on mission, to bring his message and the offer of eternal life to ends of the earth.
Predicting a Come-Back
Jesus ascends to heaven right in front of the apostles. While they continue staring into space after he has disappeared, two angels come and question them. Before, the disciples had questioned Jesus, now angels question them. The angels, or “men in white robes,” prophesy Jesus’ return. It won’t merely be a sequel to the first blockbuster hit ministry, but the end, the closing, the final note in the symphony. Jesus will come back to conclude the story, to take center stage and unite all things in himself. The promise of the kingdom has begun to be fulfilled, but it will not reach its conclusion until Jesus returns.
Jesus’ departure would be an occasion for sorrow, yet that is not how he sees it. He even says, “if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7 RSV). The Holy Spirit is the ultimate Gift, the promise, the one who enlivens us, empowers us, fills us, and makes us ready to proclaim the gospel. We cannot be effective witnesses of Jesus if we don’t have the Holy Spirit living within us. Jesus promises the Spirit and the disciples will wait in suspense (and fear) until the day of Pentecost…maybe there’s sweetness in the sorrow after all!
