By Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
I pray not only for them, but also for those who believe in me because of their message. v21I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me. John 17
v8But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” v9 After saying this, he was taken up to heaven as they watched him, and a cloud hid him from their sight. Acts 1
I feel obligated to express my deep regrets for missing my obligation in this column last week. It happened that multi-tasking and thinking clutter priorities and it was too late when I realized a half-done SSV article in my file and it would be disservice to you readers to write things not well thought of. Peace be with you all.
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After Jesus rose from the dead, He “presented Himself alive” to the women near the tomb, to His disciples and to more than 500 others (1 Corinthians 15:6). In the days following His resurrection, Jesus taught His disciples about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Forty days after the resurrection, Jesus and His disciples went to Mount Olivet, near Jerusalem. There, Jesus promised His followers that they would soon receive the Holy Spirit, and He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until the Spirit had come. Then Jesus blessed them, and as He gave the blessing, He began to ascend into heaven. The account of Jesus’ ascension is found in Luke 24:50-51 and Acts 1:9-11.
It is plain from Scripture that Jesus’ ascension was a literal, bodily return to heaven. He rose from the ground gradually and visibly, observed by many intent onlookers. As the disciples strained to catch a last glimpse of Jesus, a cloud hid Him from their view, and two angels appeared and promised Christ’s return “in just the same way that you have watched Him go” (Acts 1:11).
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Last Thursday was Ascension Day a major feast in the Christian calendar. This Sunday is also called Ascension Sunday by some Christian traditions and to the Anglicans it is 7th Sunday of Easter and Sunday After Ascension. The Ascension event is the departure of Christ from Earth into the presence of God. In the Christian tradition, reflected in the major Christian Creeds and confessional statements, the ascension is connected with the exaltation of Jesus, meaning that through his ascension, Jesus took his seat at the right hand of God the Father: “He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.” And so we believe that Jesus Christ our Lord ascended to heaven after his resurrection from the dead. What is this to us – its implication to our faith? This is a great responsibility that Jesus our Lord entrusts to us. But this great responsibility comes with great privilege. It is on this light that we are all invited to reflect on what it means to be a follower of Christ, a Christian.
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This challenge was tackled by the Anglican Consultative Council that met in Hong Kong about three weeks ago (I am privileged to be part). While the whole Anglican Communion, the members of this Christian body in pursuit to its focus of Intentional Discipleship for the next decade, agreed with enthusiasm to engage in this missional task to a “Living and Sharing Jesus Shaped Life” as a concrete way how every member can make Jesus more visible and audible to all people in words and works. If my dulling memory serves me right I believe I have already written along this lines about 16 years ago in this same column. Let me write the same in this edition because they are still true and appropriate.
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I believe that it is providential that every election in this country is timed either before or after Ascension Day wherein oneness is the core or heart of the scriptural messages. Unity. What else would we long for after those horrible weeks of mudslinging, accusations and counter-accusations of anomalies, of killing physically and spiritually? Let us meditate along these realities.
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The genius of God’s plan is obvious. If we recognize that we are all members of the same family, if we acknowledge that God desires to hold us in a single peace then, ideally, we will stop fighting each other and destroying one another and instead begin standing with one another and working together to bring people to Christ (discipleship) and to become an answer to prayer for those who cry out to God for help. As continuance to Christ’s mission this is expressed in the 3rd and 4th Mark of Mission in the Anglican Communion: Respond to human need by loving service; seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation.
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However, if your family is like any other family, your day-to-day operation is not marked with constant good will and cooperation. Parents can disagree with each other, or the children, or the youngsters with each other. There are so many possibilities for dissension – goals will vary, opinions often differ and wills may clash. Apparently there is some comfort in knowing that others experience problems similar to one’s own. But if love is at the heart of our relationships, and forgiveness is liberally applied, there is still a family and loyalty which acts like a glue – unity holds family members together even when they are apart and loyalty brings them together again at times of crisis or joyful celebration.
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The church as the family of God has characteristics similar to other family units but with infinitely more possibilities of disagreements and dissension. It is no wonder then that Paul saw the primary task of the church as one of reconciliation: “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
Let us pray.
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (ECP, Book of Common Prayer, Easter 7)**
