I have never preached on this text, though it has often intrigued me; it was very exciting for me to preach this sermon, and pulpit sermon differs interestingly from the text (despite the distracting glitches in the video). I realize more deeply that the Feast of the Ascension is a most glorious and powerfully eloquent of festivals. Here is a poem I found about Ascension, and below a longer prayer – please reflect and be joyful.

The sermon text is below the sermon video.

Video click here: https://zionepiscopal.com/Sermon%20Videos/seventh-sunday-of-easter-5-21-2023-neale.html

Sermon preached at Zion Episcopal Church, Washington NC; Sunday June 21st 2023
The Reverend Alan Neale; “Letting Go and Moving On”

Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee, why stand gazing upon into heaven?”, or as another translation reads, “Why wait here, star-gazing?”

This past Thursday the church universal celebrated the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus, sometimes called the Coronation of Christ. It is an astounding festival that stretches our minds and our hearts and our spirits; imagine the condition of the disciples. Consider all that they have endured and enjoyed in these past days – crucifixion, resurrection and resurrection appearances. The Jesus they thought they had lost to death, is walking and talking and eating with them – they are very, very, very happy.

But then… oh dear, alas, comes the farewell; the letting-go – or so it seems.

Last Sunday, the Reverend Clark Prescott (erstwhile priest at Zion) and his wife Jeannette worshiped with us at Zion. Later that week he sent me a text, with a picture of Jesus ascended in the clouds. And underneath was written, The Feast of the Ascension – celebrating the day that Jesus began working from home! Thank you, Clark!

Jesus has done his very best to prepare the disciples for the next stage of their discipleship and their mission. In last week’s Gospel from John 14, we heard these words, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me”. These chapters in John prepare the disciples for their bereavement, their letting-go of the person and body of Jesus with them. But, as so often happens with disciples then and disciples now, it often takes quite a while for the message of Jesus to sink into our minds and take root in our hearts.

And so, in our text for today, we do not observe a band of disciples ready to let go and move on into mission, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Rather, what we observe, is a band of disciples who need be asked this question by angelic interrogators, “Men, of Galilee, why stand gazing into heaven?’

Why were they so rooted to the spot, why were they indifferent to the call to let go and move on, what caused this wretched paralysis of body, mind and spirit?

Note first, that the word used for “stand” in our text just not imply a temporary rest, rather it suggests a decision to stand firm, be rooted, immobile, stock-still, static, and inert.

And note also, the word gazing suggests an intentional study in order to reflect, consider and ponder.

Friends, these “men of Galilee” were not moving. And I wonder why?

Let me suggest two reasons.

First, they did not want to lose what was precious to them and second, they feared what would happen if they moved.

First, they did not want to lose what was precious to them. In many a church’s life, in the life of many a Christian, there are significant and beautiful and holy moments; moments when the Lord seems so close, so near, near enough to touch if only we reach out. Now this is good, but sadly it often results in an unwillingness to change and to let go.

It has been quipped that the national anthem of institutional church is really, “as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be”.

To adapt a well-known hymn, “Like a mighty tortoise moves the church of God, brothers/sisters we are treading where we’ve always trod”.

Contrast this with the dictum, “Change we must, or die we will”.

Yes, indeed, there are eternal and unchanging verities such as the grace, the love, the acceptance of God (for with the Lord there are “no shut doors”) but so much else is merely habit, tradition or custom.

To know what has happened in the past is helpful, but should never be constraining.

To Zion church, and to each of us individually, the Lord has new experiences of His love. “Change we must, or die we will”.

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness” – Lamentations 3:22-23.

“This is the day the Lord has made, TODAY… we will rejoice in it” – Psalm 118:14.

Second, they feared what was to happen. And why not? Their command was to return to the very place where they had once huddled for safety “for fear of the Jews”, their command was to return to the very place where they were known for the way in which they had deserted Jesus, their command was to return to Jerusalem where they were to witness to Jesus before thousands of people – and, for all this, they felt untrained, fearful, embarrassed and anxious.

And yet… the story of the Ascension affirms a wonderful and glorious truth… that Jesus now reigns in heaven; the story of the Ascension affirms a wonderful and glorious truth… that, though language and imagine fail us, we are encouraged to believe that a King reigns in heaven thoroughly sympathetic with our weakness, our fears as well as our strengths and our hopes.

And the angels promise those “men of Galilee” that, one day, Jesus will return in the same triumphant way as He once left. We may fear that the world is on a collision course with disaster (we see it on the global, the national, the local scene) but all this is leading to a triumphant return.

In the early twentieth century Archbishop William Temple addressed a gathering of bishops at Lambeth Palace, he said: “While we deliberate, he reigns; when we decide, he reigns; when we decide foolishly, he reigns; when we serve him in humble loyalty, he reigns; when we serve him self-assertively, he reigns; when we rebel and seek to withhold our service, he reigns—the Alpha and the Omega, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
The doctrine of, the belief in the Ascension affirms when we are dumb, conceives when we are blank, resonates when we are inert that the Lord is King, the Lord reigns and He will return to establish that Kingship – “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Brothers and sisters in Christ, it has been said that the whole of our life is a preparation for that final “letting-go”.

So, each day let us practice “letting-go and moving on” in the Name of Christ, and in the power of the Spirit. AMEN

Lord Jesus Christ,
We acknowledge your rule over every realm of life:
Subdue the world by the might of your love.

Son of Mary: consecrate our homes.
Son of David: cleanse our politics.
Son of God: grant us eternal life.

Jesus the Carpenter: hallow our daily work.
Jesus the Saviour: save us from ourselves.
Jesus the Life-giver: renew your Church.

Jesus the Crucified: reveal your love and power to all who suffer.
Jesus the King: raise us to live and reign with you for ever.
Jesus the Word of God: perfect your creation
And bring the world to the knowledge of your love.