Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons - 12 May 2013

Ascension of Christ - Russian 5th C Wiki image

The Ascension of the Lord

There is a nice phrase that somehow captures one part of the Ascension, that is ‘the leave taking of the Lord’, I know it comes from Eastern Christianity and I’ve heard it used to express the feast day itself, for me it conjures up several layers of meaning, leaving as in going away, departing; saying good bye but only for a while rather like the French say au revoir - until we meet again and taking leave in the sense of having a break!

Now I know that in some ways the theological implications of these three ways need real teasing out, but I can’t help but think that they do express the going away of Jesus until he comes again. That is the direct inference we can glean from the Book of Acts, the writer clearly states that a message of future expectation has been given to us ; ‘Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there’.

Doesn’t that fill you with a sense of joyful expectation, that he will be seen again only this time we all shall see him? I hope so, it is a vision of glory that we are reminded is ours.

This hope, that great virtue that goes with faith and love must be brought alive in people’s hearts. That is the task of all of us involved in the life and mission of the Kingdom of God.

The two second readings of Ephesians and Hebrews shine a cosmic torch into the realms of mystery, beyond earth beyond time, but a kingdom that is ours and which will be revealed, ‘hope’, ‘glory’ and power’ says Paul. ‘The reward of salvation’ says Hebrews. What a joyful image to reflect on, Jesus has to leave this world so that the immense power of the Holy Spirit can work in us and all creation to reveal the abiding presence of the Lord always -with-us. In this sense we become reflections of Emmanuel, God-with-us, we become the power of Christ in the world, never alone, always as members of His body.

In Luke, the blessing of Jesus as he takes his leave of the disciples echoes the blessings we receive at the end of Mass and the liturgy, for it is the same dismissal. In his name, as his witnesses, in his name we are to go out and proclaim the Good News until he comes again.

Fr Robin Gibbons is an Eastern Rite Chaplain for the Melkite Greek Catholics in Britain.