Weekend Reflection for 5/30/14

Why are you looking at the sky?

While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11)

I have often felt that the question of the two men dressed in white garments was one of the stupidest questions of all time. “Why are you standing there looking at the sky?” What do you mean, men dressed in white, why shouldn’t we be — isn’t that where Jesus has just gone? (I fear I had always thought of the Ascension not unlike the rocket blastoffs I had witnessed growing up!)

I wonder what really happened, what the apostles experienced on that day on that mountain. When the apostles try to explain it, words fail — for they experi-enced something beyond words. It would be like trying to explain color to one who is blind or trying to put the experience of love into words.

But something happened — something wonderful! Jesus was still present to them, really present, but in a new and “transfigured” way.

The message of Ascension may be contained in the question of the men in white. “Why are you looking up?” You are looking in the wrong place — you are my witnesses — my Spirit in in you! I am with you! Stop looking up — start looking around. Look at yourself; look at one another.

Can I see Jesus alive, glorified, acting in our world, in our lives, in our Church? Can I see the face of Jesus alive, glorified, acting in one another and in the “least” of our brothers and sisters?

This is the challenge and the message of the Ascension