Sermon

17th May 26

Of course, it was necessary for God to bring Jesus’ time on earth to an end and restore him to his place in heaven.  It is the mechanics of that Ascension which causes problems for many, not helped by Christian Art.  Paintings often show a circle of disciples looking up at a couple of feet sticking out of the bottom of a cloud.  Similarly, the Chapel of the Ascension at the Shrine at Walsingham, has a cloud on the ceiling, out of which protrude two sculptured feet.  At best, this is comical; at worst, downright confusing.

But to the early Christians reading this account, it would have presented no problems.  They were steeped in the Old Testament.  They knew the accounts of the Exodus, how God led the Hebrews out of slavery, guiding them safely through the sea, appearing as a pillar of fire by night, and of cloud by day.  They knew how during the subsequent wanderings through the wilderness, Moses would go up mountains to talk with God and would be enveloped by a cloud.  For that cloud and that fire are symbols of the presence of God.  We see it again in the accounts of the Transfiguration.  Thus Luke 9:34f: ‘a cloud came and overshadowed (the disciples); and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.  And a voice came out of the cloud, saying: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”.’

At Bubble Church this morning, we are thinking about God’s call to Abraham. Around four thousand years ago, God called on this 75 year old man to leave his home and travel hundreds of miles, to become the father of a great nation.  Genesis 12 is silent as how God appeared to Abraham.  Our Bubble Church script has the note ‘no puppet for God’, which set me wondering what Abraham may have experienced: did he hear a voice and see nothing?  Or did God appear in fire, as he did when he called Moses from out of the burning bush?  Or was it that cloud?  I don’t know, and that’s particularly frustrating for someone whose reading and meditation on scripture tends to be focussed on creating pictures in my mind.

I reluctantly conclude that we do better not trying to picture the Ascension, but to focus on its meaning instead.  On the one hand, that is simple: Jesus, at the end of his time on earth, returns to His Father in heaven.  But, on the other hand, it is profound and of the deepest significance for us.  For, at Easter, Jesus promises those who would follow him, that they will follow him through death and resurrection; now he reveals the place that he is being prepared for us and to which we must also follow him: that place, our final destination, is in heaven, in the nearer presence of God.  So, perhaps a better picture for today would be of Jesus welcoming the faithful into heaven and leading them to his Father.

Amen