Ascension - End of the Story or Cliffhanger?

Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, Vidalia, GA

5-16-26 Easter 7A

Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36; John 17:1-11

Movie Sequels and Television Cliffhangers

            As a kid, one of my favorite television re-runs to watch in the afternoons was the 1960’s version of Batman and Robin starring Adam West and Burt Ward.  In each episode, the two “Caped Crusaders” worked unceasingly to restore peace, justice, and fairness to Gotham city. They usually found themselves up against overwhelming forces. At the end of the episode, their nemesis captured the two heroes and placed them in a death trap. The tension mounted as their lives could potentially end by the blade of a huge saw, light of a laser beam or some other outlandish weapon of torture.   The show always ended with Batman and Robin on the brink of their demise.  We viewers were left with the anxiety and uncertainty how and if our heroes would escape.  

            Entertainment writers utilized then and now, a production trick called the "cliffhanger." It was used to keep us on the edge of our seats, keep us interested, and heighten the desire to hear the rest of the story. The “cliffhanger” was most prominently used in an old TV drama “Dallas” in the early 1980’s. You might have joined the millions of fans who spent an entire summer wandering, “Who shot JR.”  Most recently, the tv series the Walking Dead and many other dramas use the cliffhanger to keep us coming back for more.    

            You may be asking this morning, "Fr. Eric, what do cliffhangers and movie sequels have to do with the Ascension of Jesus that we hear about in today's Gospel reading?" Well my friends, I want to reframe for you this story as a spiritual cliffhanger of sorts.  I believe that the Ascension of Jesus may just be the first and most important cliffhanger story in the church.  It is I will assert the most important cliffhanger of our spiritual lives. 

The Ascension - Spiritual Cliffhanger and Discipleship Sequel

            In today's reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear, "As they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them." This is one of the most pivotal moments in Jesus' ministry but sadly, the church does not spend a great deal of time teaching about the ascension.  Even so, each week each week in the church, it has a special place in our liturgy in the Nicene Creed when we say, “he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.” 

            Theologian Gregory Shaw once wrote, the ascension reveals Christ’s “divinity, but more importantly . . . the ascension of Christ also signaled the beginning of a messianic kingdom and the empowerment of Christ’s followers, by virtue of their identification with him through the rite of baptism.” (1)  The Ascension is not the end of the story of Jesus' work of salvation, it is the beginning of the story to come. 

            The Ascension of Christ is important for we Christians for a couple of reasons.  First, it serves as a visible sign that humanity is by Jesus' life, ministry, death, resurrection and his ascension, fully accepted by God.  Jesus said, "that they may be one as you and I are one."  The Ascension of Christ reminds us that the nature of humanity was taken into heaven and into the inner life of God.  Imagine the mystery of the resurrected body of Christ integrated with the inner life of the Trinity; humanity and divinity united.  "That they may be one as we are one."

            The Ascension of Christ also serves as a reminder that the story of salvation continues beyond this particular event.  The Ascension is the hinge point between Jesus’ resurrection, and the narrative of the ongoing ministry of Christ through the ministry of the church, and through the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Ascension event is a "cliffhanger." It is that dramatic moment in the story that tells us that there is a sequel in the ongoing story of salvation.  The Ascension of Christ tell us that there is much more to come, and more importantly, we the church as well as we as individual saints all have a major part to play in that ongoing drama.  

Ascension and Mission

            In the Gospel according to John, Jesus said, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all (men) to myself." (John 12:32)   Jesus sends out his baptized followers into the world to continue his ministry of reconciliation, restoration, and grace, which means that Jesus also sends us out with the same commission.  He sends us out with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, to empower and strengthen us to do that which we have been called to do. 

            The Ascension is not the end of the story it is the beginning of the ongoing drama that will surely challenges us to anticipate and engage in that sequel ourselves.  We are the storytellers, the actors, and the heroes whose actions others will come to know Christ and his reconciliation and restoration.   Jesus commissions us, the Church to go and tell the story again.  Our calling is to go and create the sequel, and manifest through action and love, the story we must live. However, we do not follow our commission alone. The Book of Common prayer tells us that the Holy Spirit is, “God at work in the world and in the Church even now.” (2). As disciples of Jesus today, we are invited to write the salvation sequel, with the help of a holy comforter and director; the Holy Spirit.

What is the Mission?

             After the Ascension, the disciples were standing looking up into the sky and two white robed men (we believe to be Angels) said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?”   It is as if these messengers were telling the apostles, “Ok, let’s get moving here, there is work to be done, this is not the end of the story, now you all are up on stage, and it’s your turn.”  The apostle’s awe, amazement and joy were clearly portrayed in the story.  However, fear also made them reluctant to get on with the ministry, and because we are viewing this cliffhanger from our post-resurrection/post-church growth mentality, it may be difficult for us to comprehend why.   

            The Ascension for Jesus followers is not merely a sign that the tale came to an end, and now we modern Christians just keep doing what we do every day and merely wait for Jesus' return.  The Ascension tells us that there is work to be done now, because Jesus gave these gals and guys and we as well, clear and challenging marching orders.  Today, the church is still called to move forward in the mission, to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.  We must work now, to bring about the Kingdom of God not only in some future time, but right here and right now.  Yes, we look forward with anticipation to the Kingdom to come, but we must work now, to bring it into the present day and age.    We wait and yet, we work.  We hope, and yet we minister.

            What does the Kingdom of God look like?  Jesus explains it throughout his ministry and in very simple terms.  The Kingdom Christ calls us to make present now includes: (1) It is within you" (or "in your midst") The Spirit has already made the Kingdom grow in you; (2) It Grows Secretly and it does not require Saintly holiness, but faithful, humble, loving service; (3) It Requires Action and Repentance and that means cultivating God's right relationships (with God and neighbor) prioritizing love over worldly security; and (4)  It is for the Marginalized: The kingdom includes and focuses those on the fringes of society, such as the poor, broken, and oppressed.

We need to Get Moving

            How can we keep the story going and move forward in anticipation working in the kingdom? I found on someone's Facebook wall the other day, these words, “Good Morning, This Is God!  I will be Handling all Your Problems Today. I Will Not Need Your Help -- So Have a Good Day.  I Love You.” First, we must put all our trust in God's Spirit who guides empowers, and directs our Kingdom work.  We are not alone in this task.  After all, it his God's story and God's sequel of the salvation story, which is already showing on the movie screen of our lives for others to see.

            Jesus promises us this help.  He prayed, "Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” Even today, when faith communities stand at the "cliffhanger" of each new day, we may rest in the assurance that the Spirit will guide us.  We can rest assured the Spirit will lead us.  We can rest in the promise that the Spirit will strengthen us for the mission of love and service that ongoing sequel we are writing right now.  Our mission sequel is to remain as one, work together to bring all the players into the drama, so we may all come to the knowledge and love of Christ. 

            The cliffhanger episode has ended, so get out of your seats, drop the popcorn, Jumbo Diet Coke and Junior Mints, because you are now the actors, producers, directors and support cast in this amazing drama.  Now is the time to move our gaze from the skies and take up our part in the mission of bringing about the Kingdom of God, which-is already emerging all around us. Jesus has left it up to and us but with great help. And until Our Lord returns in glory, it is our Kingdom work to do, that is until the last credits roll. 

REFERENCES

(1) Oxford Companion to the Bible, Oxford University Press, Gregory Shaw, New York,p. 61

(2) The Book of Common Prayer p. 852

(3) ibid