Daily Office Reflection: Ascension Day

Psalms 8, 47 * 24, 96; Ezekiel 1:1-14,24-28b; Hebrews 2:5-18; Matthew 28:16-20

There is an irreverent side of me that pops out on occasion, and this morning is one of those times it is popping up. Although today is an important day in our faith tradition, a song is running through my head on a continuous loop and perhaps if I share it, the song will go away. The first line is Up, up and away, in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon...... and the music goes on from there, and then I'm back to the first line again. 

It's actually kind of a fun picture to imagine, Jesus hopping into a hot air balloon, like the wizard of oz, and flying away. Not a religious image at all, but one that perhaps can illustrate why this Holy Day is such a hard one for so many people. Jesus ascends, bodily, to heaven today. We say it in our Creeds: who was crucified, died, rose and ascended to heaven..... We're at the ascension part today. And I think humor and odd images help people deal with parts of the faith that are so difficult to understand, or even yet imagine. 

We are given such wonderful parting words from Jesus today in Matthew: All authority has been given to him and he has called all of us to make disciples of all nations. ALL. He tells us how to baptize. And he tells us to remember that he is always with us. ALWAYS. Now there is something that takes that silly song out of my head.

jfd+

Copyright 2009, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.