God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
The Acension reveals the victory of Jesus. He brings our human nature with him to the throne room of heaven. By his union with the Father we are united with the Father. The resurrection does not lead to mere human life. It leads to a union of love with the Triune God.
And yet all to often we don't experience this union. Even the disciples who witness the Ascension don't immediately experience it.
why are you standing there looking at the sky?
The apostles are distracted and afraid. How do they move beyond this? They cling to the words of Jesus.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
The Holy Spirit is how we are to experience the power of the resurrection. He is how we experience the union between the Father and the Son in heaven. We don't fully share in that union in this life but there is almost limitless potential for how much we can experience it. Just as the love between the Father and the Son now has a human component because of the human nature of Jesus so too does our love have a divine component to the degree that we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
The hope that belongs to our call is more than we can dream.
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
for us who believe,
That sounds good but how about those of us who don't experience it so intensely? That's well and good for saints. What about us normal Christians?
Paul shows us that we are have the same call, no less than the greatest of saints. He prays that we will realize it.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
So let us not sell short the words of Jesus as he tells us to await the coming of his Spirit.
And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;
but stay in the city
until you are clothed with power from on high.”
We have received him in baptism and confirmation but there is always more he wants to do in us. Let us be open to everything he wants to give. May our hearts be filled with his praise.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.
Let Your Fire Fall
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