The Ascension as Benediction

Once upon a time in a land far away ... Eureka Springs, Arkansas ... I attended the Passion Play which was an amazing production.  The play begins at dusk and by the end we are shrouded in darkness.   At the end of the play, into the dark sky we see Jesus rising, light and gossamer, hands up in a gesture of blessing.  You could hear the gasps, the sighs, and the intake of breath all around but other than that you could have heard a pin drop.  It was a very powerful moment.  I can still close my eyes and see Jesus ascending into the night sky heaven.

Ubisi Monastery. Ascension of Jesus, public domain via wikimedia commons

 Jesus ascending ... "The Ascension."

I could also see all of the ropes and pulleys it took to raise that Jesus guy up into the air for our entertainment.  It didn't really detract from the power of the moment but it did invite me into a period of questioning skepticism.  I don't live in the context of the disciples.  The 3-story universe (heaven/earth/hell) collapsed as we began our own human ascent into space.  I know that we live on a tiny speck in a vast universe.  So how can I not laugh at the ascension, an idea that Jesus floated up and disappeared into the clouds. 

In the past I have struggled greatly with this theological concept.  Finally, today I simply put the ascension of Jesus into a category marked, "mystery."   I don't know how it happened, this re-union of the "Father" and the "Son," but I believe that it did happen.  I remember Jesus said, in John 16:7, "if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you."  So, I also believe that something happened in the separation and re-unification of God "substance" that enabled the Spirit of God to come to each ordinary individual rather than to certain special people as in the past.  Again, we are bumping up against mystery here.  And here I choose to let it go.

I spent a week struggling with what direction to go as I prepared a sermon on the Ascension.  I spent time reading and re-reading Luke 24:44-53 and Acts 1:1-11, take link to read passages.  I prayed with portions of the text via Lectio Divina.  I also read a lot of commentary and material about the Ascension.  Most of it centered on that same sense of power and glory that I felt at the end of the passion play.  However, I continued to be drawn via Lectio Divina to Jesus blessing the disciples in Luke 24: 50-53 as he was rising.  

Then Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. Now during the blessing he departed and was taken up into heaven. So they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple courts blessing God.  (NET)

What must that have been like?  Such a mixture of pain and loss and wonder and a sense of deep joy. Suddenly, the word "benediction" popped into my head.  Yes, another "churchy" word just like the ascension is a churchy word.  I think few (or at least not a majority of) people inside the church know these words and fewer if anybody outside the church.  But I couldn't get away from the word benediction and all that it stand for to me!  

John Drescher says the benediction, "conveys the pronouncement of God's presence and blessing ... [and] should have a commissioning quality - a sending of believers forth, strengthened by God, to face the world ... as witnesses to the living Lord and Savior."   Wow, it sounds like what Jesus did as he ascended ... the Ascension as Benediction!

As I continued to sit with the Ascension as Benediction it became much more practical than mystical. As Jesus left he have his followers a simple "to do" list.  

1. Wait. (and while they waited they praised God which enabled their hearts to be wide open in a receptive state)
2. Receive the Holy Spirit (be clothed with power)
3. Be witnesses to the Life of Christ and offer forgiveness to the repentant. (Tell your story)

As I continued to sit with the Ascension as Benediction, I began to see the rhythm that Jesus lived as a pattern for the way we should live.  Jesus withdrew to rest and pray, gaining strength from God in the Spirit.  Jesus worked as he listened, drawing people to the love of God and the God of Love, he was a teacher, a preacher and a healer.   Jesus prayed and Jesus ministered.  

This rhythm of Jesus, prayer and ministry has been duplicated as a rule of life throughout history.  Benedict wrote a rule for the Benedictines to live by, summarized by these two words written on the windows on either side of an altar in the chapel of a little Benedictine monastery I go to.  On one window is written "ora."  On the other is "labora."  Ora y labora = pray & work.   John Wesley's rule of life could be summed up in is admonishment to engage in "works of piety" and "works of mercy." Today, Richard Rohr has founded a center for "action and contemplation." Thus we can live our lives in the rhythm that Jesus lived and the life Jesus invites us all into.  We can live a life of prayer and work.  So, let's talk about what this means. 

What does it mean to live a life of prayer?  For me there is withdrawing for prayer, and then there is the prayer of living in the present moment, noticing God's presence and praising God in that moment.   Both are necessary for the other to be vibrant and complete.  I withdraw and spend time in the silence and engage God through many, many different ways ... I journal, draw, write, read, walk in nature, talk and listen ... the list could go on for pages I suppose.  And yet, there is a running "conversation" spoken and unspoken as I notice God's presence and guidance throughout my day.  

If you are looking for new ways to pray and would like some starting points, visit the prayer portal on my website.  OR you could withdraw into the silence and ask God to teach you to pray in a way that will draw you closer.  One pitfall that I find often is when we separate out petition and intercessory prayer from our attention to God in prayer and contemplation.  Petition and intercession are generally spoken prayer concentrating on my needs and the needs of others, generally always about what we want or think we need.  Especially in times of emotional and physical stress, these prayers can easily bring us down into a very self-centered space.  I sometimes hear, "I don't know what is wrong because I am praying constantly but God is not answering my prayers," meaning God is not giving me what I want.  Our petition and intercessory prayer should be balanced with other means of prayer, especially prayers of praise and gratitude for who God is.  Notice our 2 ascension passages.  What were the disciples doing while they waited for the Holy Spirit ... they are praising and blessing (which means praising) God.  I remember one time when I was keeping a gratitude journal.  At the end of every day, I wrote down 3 things I was grateful for and I couldn't repeat anything for 30 days.  Over time I came to realize that I was seeking things to praise God for and I had a deep sense of joy.  Sometimes, I found myself looking deeply into the hard things of life to find something I could praise God for and I still do.  There is just something about gratitude that opens our heart to receive the Spirit of God!

On the other hand, we are to be "witnesses."  What does it mean to "witness" to a life with Christ?  Let me tell you a story of 2 men I once knew.  One of the men testified that each day as he left work, he stopped people in the parking lot to tell them they needed Jesus and invited them to church.  He always ended his story with, "now, no one has ever come to church but I know if I just keep telling them and inviting them, one day someone will come!"  The other man said very little, but one day I met a couple of new people around my church.  I asked the woman how she came to be out our church.  She told me about her boss, a man whose door was always open.  He had gone through a terrible divorce the year before and yet he came through it with such grace.   When she had gone through a difficult time herself, she went in and shared her story with him and asked him how he did it, how did he get through his divorce?  He said, "Well, I could never have gotten through it without God, without my church family and without my small group at church" and he hold me his story.  She said it made her want to get closer to God and to find a church home like that.  The man's story was almost identical.  I began to wonder about the ways we go about sharing the Gospel with others.  I am just not sure that we can be effective witnesses to anything without being in relationship, without truly caring about others.  I thought about the man who shouted at people in the parking lot and about the man whose door was always open and who had a listening ear.  Which seems more caring and inviting to you?  Who do you care about?  Who are you in relationship with?   Who is your "neighbor?"  Who needs to hear the story of a God who loves and cares for them?

When we view the Ascension as Benediction, we can hear Jesus calling us to live our lives with a rhythm of prayer and ministry ... waiting and receiving the Spirit, receiving the Spirit and reaching out into the world to witness to the transforming power of God's Love in Jesus Christ.

So ... we are waiting this week for the Holy Spirit to come on the Day of Pentecost!

I challenge you to keep a Gratitude Journal this week.  Every day, write down 3 things you are grateful for and don't repeat.  Notice how it changes you!  

Music can be a prayer ... Listen to "We are Called" by David Haas.  It is an amazing and beautiful song, one of my favorites.   Amen!

Lectio & Labyrinth: A Gratitude Walk!

This week we weave together the ancient spiritual practices of Lectio Divina with walking the Labyrinth as we pray with Scriptural passages of Gratitude.  Do you have easy access to a Labyrinth that you could walk?   If not, you can take this Link to a finger Labyrinth that you can download and print: PDF File/Labyrinth.  If you prefer, I'll give you a link below to an online labyrinth within your experience of Lectio.  

Thus says the LORD:
Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way lies; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.  Jeremiah 6:16ab

Both Lectio Divina and Walking the Labyrinth are ancient spiritual pathways to God.  Lectio Divina is a Latin phrase that means "sacred reading." It is a way of praying and listening for the still, small voice of God speaking through gentle reading of scripture.  Lectio Divina has also been known as "listening with the ear of the heart."    Beginning in the middle ages, Christianity adopted the Labyrinth as a symbol, changing the design to permeate it with specifically Christian meaning. For almost a thousand years there has been an identifiable Christian labyrinth tradition.

 

Wesley Center Labyrinth, Woodworth, Louisiana

To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything … 

Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted,

is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to

new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God.

~Thomas Merton, Seasons of Grace

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.  Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.   ~Philippians 4:4-9

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and be thankful for all that God has given us.   Giving thanks is an important part of our spiritual life.   Living daily with bible verses on Gratitude can help us experience the benefits that come from practicing gratefulness to God at all times, in all places and for all things.  So, this week we look at a variety of passages on Gratitude rather than on one long passage.  As the passage from the letter to the Philippians says, "if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these!"

As you begin your time of prayer, settle into a place of loving openness within yourself with a simple Breath Prayer.  Use this one or allow one to emerge as you breathe in and breathe out.  (I have found that six to eight syllables is best for breathing but a longer prayer often speaks what we need to hear for ourselves … simply be authentic with your breath prayer)

Breathe in ... God of Grace (Your Name for God)
Breath out ... my gratitude overflows! (Name Your Desire)

Pray: God of Grace, my gratitude overflows!  I am grateful for life, for love, for friends, for family, for relationships and for peace.  I am grateful for creation, for nature, for humanity and for YOU!  May I always give thanks and find my heart warm with your grace.  Amen.


Engage in Lectio Divina, which means "sacred reading."  Allow yourself to be drawn deeply into God’s Presence as you read slowly and pray intently and listen carefully to these 10 verses as they express the gratitude of God's people.  Read each verse and pause in silence between each one.  Which verse is drawing your attention?  Which verse can your heart sing with the one who originally spoke the words?

1. Chanting antiphonally, they gave thanks to the Most High “who is good, whose love for Israel lasts forever.” The people joined in with shouts of praise to God, as the foundation of the House of YHWH was being laid.  ~Ezra 3:11 
2. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that can’t be shaken, let’s continue to express our gratitude.  With this gratitude, let’s serve in a way that is pleasing to God with respect and awe.    ~Hebrews 12:28 
3. They were to be present every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and to do the same every evening.   ~1 Chronicles 23:30 
4. Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him.   ~Colossians 3:17 
5. “Give thanks for YHWH’s goodness; God’s love endures forever!”     ~Psalms 107:1 
6. So live in Christ Jesus the Lord in the same way as you received him. Be rooted and built up in him, be established in faith, and overflow with thanksgiving just as you were taught.   ~Colossians 2:6-7 
7. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.   
   ~1 Thessalonians 5:18
8. I will praise God’s name with song; I will magnify God with thanks!   ~Psalm 69:30 
9. In every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.   ~Acts 24:3
10.  While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."    ~Matthew 26:26

Read all 10 verses again slowly with the same silent pauses.  Consider where God is calling your attention.   Choose just one verse with which to reflect.  Spend time with your verse and listen to the whispers of God through the words that have drawn you into the text ... Listen!  Take your verse, or a modified version of it that speaks of your life, with you as you walk on a Labyrinth or spend some time outside in nature.   Or find a place to sit quietly.  You might take this link and choose an online virtual labyrinth.   Let the Spirit of God guide you in your time of reflection.  

As you walk (or if you choose to simply sit in the quiet) turn your verse over in your mind.  Is there a word that is calling you from within the text or are you staying with a complete thought that arises from the verse? Let God speak into your heart as you listen.  As you walk, take time to "Release" anything that emerges that you need to let go of in order to move on in your prayers.

As you pause at the center of the Labyrinth or at the apex of your walk, take time to "Receive" and welcome God's word for you. Consider these questions or others that may arise in your time of pause:  Where is God speaking into my life through my word or my verse?  How is my prayer life touched by my word or my verse?

Before you begin your journey anew from the center, slowly read your verse again! Consider how you are being called to "Respond" to what you have heard from God the sense of gratitude that is growing larger within you. 

As you walk or move out of the center along the same labyrinth path you took in, know that you are gaining strength for your continuing journey of life.  Who is God calling me to pray for or to reach out to through this verse and my growing sense of gratitude?  How is God calling me to change or grow deeper in my faith?

As you reach the end of the Labyrinth pathway, it is time to Rest in the silence of God's Presence.  Allow God to draw you deeper into the shining light of the Holy Presence and into the prayerful sense of God’s Spirit, ever holding you and loving you.  Let all the words fade away and stay in this lovely place as long as you can.

Simply BE with the God who always hears your prayers.

Be aware that you may find a desire to express what you have received.  This is a wonderful time to journal, to write about your experience, thoughts, feelings, and insights.   Some persons find that God’s voice is clarified through the writing process.

Prayer: God of all Blessings, I am so grateful that you are YOU and that I am ME.  I am so grateful that you love me, lead me and guide me on my spiritual path. 

If music is a spiritual pathway for you, listen to "Give Thanks" and let the images capture your attention as you continue to sit with your verse of gratitude.  Carry your verse with you as you continue your heart's journey through this next week of Thanksgiving.  

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!