Vespers of Ascension

Peter H. Davids

Byzantine Homilies • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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The Ascension of Jesus enables Jesus from the presence of the Father to be in all places at once and therefore it is the presupposition of Pentecost, when the gospel goes out to the nations and the nations come to him.

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Why the Ascension?

Outline

It is clear that the ultimate purpose of God is to reign in the person of Jesus over all nations, over all the world

This is the fulfillment of prophecy, such as that in Isaiah

It is also clear that the resurrected Jesus could not be present everywhere

Unlike the Holy Spirit he is not with everyone so long as he is in this physical world

A spirit may comes from within, but Jesus always comes from without, entering and encountering, so he makes clear that he is objective.

A spirit cannot eat, but only seems to eat, as in Tobit, but Jesus eats with his disciples in Emmaus, in the Upper Room, and on the shore of Galilee.

A spirit inhabits (to use a metaphor) the reality of God and is therefore not within this creation, although by God’s will it can appear to be within this creation. Jesus has flesh and bones within this creation, and although he is not hindered by space and time, he is described as only being in one place at a time.

Jesus therefore ascends to make the worldwide spread of the kingdom possible

He seems to go up, but in reality goes through to the sphere of being itself, to the the presence of the Father.

There he is not just one with the Father, as he always was, but he also brings transformed humanity into the presence of the Father.

There he can rule the whole created universe from its point of origin until it can be renovated and be capable of being spiritual itself

Therefore there is a Jerusalem above to which all nations can “go” and which will “come down” to the transformed earth, for God will dwell among us in his full Trinity.

Brothers and Sisters, the ascension was necessary for the world triumph of the kingdom of God

With Jesus in the presence of the Father the Spirit can come, who will not be seen, but who can both be everywhere at once (not having a body) and draw everyone to the throne of God and of his Christ.

Therefore the Church waits in Jerusalem until the nations are gathered to the Temple and then the Spirit comes and world-wide evangelism begins.

The ascension is also necessary for Jesus through the Spirit to be present to each of us all at once.

That is why it is not a good-bye but a welcome to a new reality that will burst upon us fully in our own resurrection.

Readings

Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition Chapter 2

2 ¶ It shall come to pass in the latter days

that the mountain of the house of the LORD

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

and shall be raised above the hills;

and all the nations shall flow to it,

3 and many peoples shall come, and say:

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

to the house of the God of Jacob;

that he may teach us his ways

and that we may walk in his paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition Chapter 1

1 ¶ In the first book,* O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. 4 ¶ And while stayinga with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me, 5 for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

The Ascension of Jesus

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 ¶ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” 9 ¶ And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away;

Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition Chapter 24

36 ¶ As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”x 37 But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts?* 39 ¶ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this he showed them his hands and his feet.y 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.

44 ¶ Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 ¶ and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 ¶ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations,z beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 ¶ And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus

50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 ¶ While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.a 52 ¶ And they worshiped him, andb returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.