May 21, 2020
/Ascension Day
Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53
The Rev. Jimmy Grace
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN
Over twenty years ago, I visited the city of Jerusalem. And in the part of the city called the Mount of Olives where the Garden of Gethsemane is, there is a small chapel. It is called the chapel of the Ascension. Like most of the city, the chapel itself is very old, it was built in the twelfth century, so it is more than 800 years old. It was built upon the foundation of an even older church that dates from the fourth century. The church over the centuries has served as a place of Christian worship, it has also served as a monastery, and also a mosque.
For hundreds of years this spot upon the Mt of Olives has been visited by millions of people who want to see with their own eyes the spot upon which many people believe marks the place where Jesus ascended into heaven. When I visited the chapel of the Ascension, I noticed that there was a stone slab on the floor. Upon this slab, if you looked carefully, you might see what appears to be a footprint. For many people, the stone literally bears the footprint of Christ, perhaps marking the very last spot Jesus placed his foot before ascending into heaven.
In our Bible studies earlier this week, we spent a lot of time talking about this reading, and people confessed their struggles with this story of Christ ascending, particularly with the admonition offered by the two angels who inform the disciples that Jesus will return one day in the same way that he has ascended. For some in our studies, they regretted their upbringing in churches that wielded this teaching of Christ’s return with dread and foreboding.
Having been raised in the Episcopal Church myself, I can say that I have never felt that way about this story – nor do I feel anxious about Christ’s return. I appreciate the Ascension because it reminds me that as Jesus ascends to a higher plane so to shall we. That is our calling – to ascend like Jesus to move to a higher place.
At our vestry meeting this week, several of our Vestry members shared with me their impressions of last Sunday’s town hall meeting in which I described what regathering for in person worship will probably look like, and what we will need to do to get ready for it. The most common phrase I heard to describe that town hall meeting was this: “it was depressing.” That’s honest. And I so appreciate the honesty. It made me think of some words St. Augustine said many years ago – Augustine was the bishop of Hippo in northern Africa in the 4th century. Augustine said this: “Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.”
We will never ascend to a higher place, we will never grow closer to God – unless we get on our knees, and lower ourselves to the ground – depress ourselves – and be humble. That’s where ascension happens. That’s why Jesus was so good at it and could ascend effortlessly – because he didn’t need it. His humility made him light, so he could float.
Perhaps the stone upon which Christ last placed his foot, met the foot of God, and kissed it before it disappeared into a higher place. The stone released the foot and bore the weight of God joyfully capturing Christ’s essence before his foot left it. Or maybe the rock formation upon the stone is natural indentation someone long ago thought looked like a foot. Does it matter?