Ascension a reminder of Christian’s daily creed

We recently celebrated Feast of Christ’s ascension into heaven. We refer to the Ascension every time we recite the Profession of Faith or say the Apostles’ Creed; “I believe … in Jesus Christ … who … ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.”

Some people have problems believing in Jesus’ ascension because the narrative assumes a three-storied universe: 1) a solid dome of heaven above the earth; 2) the flat earth; 3) the waters of the deep and the underworld of the dead, often called Shaeol, Hades, or Hell.

We have to understand that the inspirited authors of scripture could only describe reality as they understood the world to be. They had a much different understanding of our world than we do.

They pictured heaven spatially “up” above the great super dome in the sky. The sun, the moon, and the stars were fixed to the top of this dome. Since they did not have our view of the universe, we have to “translate” what they were trying to tell us.

We do not live in a three-storied universe. Heaven is not “up”; it is a different dimension. Heaven is being with God. God is everywhere, so heaven is not confined to a particular place.

What ultimately happened on the day we call the ascension was that Jesus in his resurrected body, after spending the 40 days (a biblical expression that means a long while) “speaking about the kingdom of God,” told his followers they would not see him again. He returned to the Father for good and passed on his work to his followers.

In John’s gospel, John implies that Jesus’ resurrection, ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit happened on the same day. Jesus was with the Father the moment he died. When he returned and appeared to his followers, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” He worked with his followers for a long while (again, this so-called 40 days) and then he told them “good-bye.” Now they would have to continue his work.

The ascension is also a reminder of our role in the fulfillment of scripture. In Matthew’s gospel Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The church is the body called to act as Jesus did – taking his love, grace and mercy into our world.

Dr. Kent M. Keith has written an item called “The Paradoxical Commandments.” It’s a good example of how we should continue Christ’s work:

“People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.”