Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC
I stood before the congregation, and as I prepared to speak on Ascension Day, I knew the significance of this moment. Ascension Day, if we’re honest, has always felt a bit surreal. I opened by admitting, “It feels a little like Star Trek—‘Beam me up, Scotty,’ you know?” The idea of Jesus ascending into heaven, lifted up in a cloud and disappearing from view, can feel detached from our everyday experiences. But it’s a crucial part of our faith.
Understanding the Disciples’ Doubt
I shared how the disciples, even after spending forty days with the resurrected Christ, were still uncertain. Imagine it: they had seen Jesus alive after his crucifixion, had been taught and reassured by him, yet they were still filled with doubt and confusion. It’s understandable—seeing someone rise from the dead and then ascend into heaven is not something that fits neatly into our world’s expectations. The gospel tells us that even as they worshiped, some doubted.
This doubt, I explained, is part of the human condition. It’s a reality we all experience at some point, especially when faced with events that defy our understanding. From the time of the Resurrection to the Ascension, Jesus was with the disciples, but even his constant presence couldn’t erase all their fears and uncertainties.
A Message for the Seafarers and Those Who Understand Separation
I turned my attention to the seafarers among us, those who leave their families for long stretches to provide for them. “You know what it’s like to experience separation,” I said, acknowledging the anxiety and pain that comes with being away from loved ones. Just as the disciples felt unsure and abandoned when Jesus ascended, so too do you when you board your vessels and leave your families behind.
But there’s hope. On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended, transforming the disciples from people paralyzed by fear into bold proclaimers of the gospel. That same Spirit comes to you, giving you strength to endure separation and hope to sustain you through the hardest times. It binds you to your families and to each other, no matter the distance.
The Ascension’s Profound Implications
I emphasized a powerful theological truth: Jesus ascended into heaven with his human body, forever intertwining our humanity with the divine. “Flesh and blood are now part of the godhead,” I said, meaning that God understands our human struggles in an intimate, personal way. The Ascension is not about Jesus leaving us but about elevating human experience into the heart of God. We are forever known and loved by a God who has experienced humanity.
Living Out the Great Commission
I reminded everyone of Jesus’s final command: “Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” This Great Commission still applies to us today. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are equipped to spread the gospel, even to the ends of the earth. It’s because of this that the message has reached places like Namibia and the Philippines, and it’s our duty to carry it forward.
A Day of Celebration and Hope
Finally, I declared that Ascension Day is a celebration. We thank God that Jesus’s humanity is now part of the divine and that the Holy Spirit empowers us to live in unity and strength. For those feeling separated from their loved ones, remember that God’s Spirit connects us all, transcending physical distance.
The sermon ended with a communal sense of faith and hope, a reminder that, through God’s love and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are never alone. Ascension Day may feel mysterious, but it’s a beautiful promise that our humanity is forever embraced and understood by the divine.
