Ascension Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons 28 May 2017

The Ascension of the Lord Jesus into Heaven

In the years I have worked as priest and teacher in academic and church life, I have realised that one of the most seductive temptations put before us is the accumulation and exercise of power. It can begin in small ways, insisting on our ‘rights’, our dignity, position and place in any given situation, but it can become like a pernicious disease invading and shaping our outlook on life, distorting perceptions of faith and life.

One has only to glimpse the media and see spread across our world, powerful people, not all of them good examples of generous humanity! All too few of them exercise this power in a democratic and just way, too often many seem able to get their own way at the expense of others. The gap between the rich and powerful and those who are poor and unvoiced is still a cause of great scandal for any of us who claim to be Disciples of Christ!

That is why the feast of the Ascension is a wonderful check on our progress as Christians. This feast, the ‘leave taking’ of Jesus, is a moment when the ‘Great Commission’ (Mt 28:18-20) is given to all, not just the apostles, who are Christ’s disciples in this world! It is a command from the Lord to each and every one of us to go out into our world and make new disciples who in their turn will spread the message of salvation.

In his commission Jesus gives us his authority, to speak in his name, to be people of the truth and faithful to that great commandment he teaches us is the basis for all we do! We are baptized in the name of God who is One and Three, in baptism we enter into a reciprocal covenant where we become part of that dynamic life and love of the Trinity and share in the Kingdom of God as true children together in one family that knows no boundary, nor allows of any inequality amongst us!

As true disciples we are to teach by word and example Christ’s self giving love and offer of salvation, that means our talents and gifts given by the Spirit will be at work making new disciples. We have to be learners, scholars and students of the love of God each in our own capacity, but we are also called to hold those who have earthly power to account. In doing this we are not alone, for though he is not seen, Christ is with us to the end of the age as he promised, present through the power and gift of the Spirit who is our constant helper!

A Thought from St Romanos the Melodist - On the Ascension

O my disciples, on high over you, As God and Maker of the whole world, I stretch out My hands, hands which the lawless stretched, bound, and nailed down. Do you, then, place your heads under my hands; Understand and know, friends, what I am bringing to pass. For just as though baptizing you, I place My hands on you now, And blessing you, I send you forth Enlightened and made wise. On your heads, praise and beauty, On your spirits, a shining glory, as is written. For I pour out on you from My own Spirit, and you will be accepted by Me, Instructed and chosen, trusted members of the inner circle. I am not separated from you; I am with you, and no one is against you.

Fr Robin is an Eastern Rite Catholic Chaplain for Melkites in the UK. He is also an Ecumenical Canon of Christ Church, Oxford