Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Dear Friends,

Today is the Feast of the Ascension.  Celebrated forty days into the season of Easter, here we mark the day that the resurrected Christ ascended, in full view of his disciples, to the heavens.

Ascension can be one of the more confounding celebrations on our calendar.  Why, after all, would Jesus Christ, whose life and teachings focused so intently on the coming of God’s to renew the world, be seen departing from his followers and leaving them to fend for themselves?  (Even now, amidst so many difficulties in this world, we would sure love to have Jesus of Nazareth walking among us, teaching us, healing, us, encouraging us to endure.)

One response to this big question comes in the blessings and promises of Jesus after the resurrection.  Appearing to the doubting Thomas, Jesus pronounced a blessing for all who would believe without seeing or touching him for themselves (John 20:29).  Speaking to his disciples, the Jesus predicted that, as marvelous and wonderful as all his teachings and good works certainly were, those who follow him would do even greater things (John 14:12).  And predicting his ascension, Jesus promised not to leave his people alone or powerless, but to send the Holy Spirit to fill us and empower us and well within us to be his living body for the life of the world (John 14:16).  

I want to tell you that the Ascension is a very important day in our story, because it is when followers of Jesus are challenged to accept our identity as the continuation of the risen Christ in this world.  We are here to be the hands and feet and heart and mind of Jesus for the sake of the world we inhabit and God seeks to renew.

So then, let us pray with those first disciples for the Holy Spirit to come.  Let us pray for the Spirit to blow fresh winds among us, and warm us with the fire of love, and to flow through us as living water to restore a parched land.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally has invited Anglicans (including Episcopalians) and Christians around the world into eleven days of prayer from now till Pentecost, in an ongoing initiative called “Thy Kingdom Come.”

Here, we share a collection of nightly prayers in English and Spanish (links below) and commend them to you for daily meditation, as we prepare for the Feast of Pentecost on May 24.  Please undertake to hold in prayer all those who are sick or suffering, who are anxious or alone, who feel unloved or unwanted, who are overwhelmed or afraid, and for all of us who seek to be faithful witnesses to resurrection life in the face of daunting injustice, terror and death.

In all these prayers and preparations, I am praying with you, asking God to bathe us in love and courage to continue as Christ’s body in the world.

Scott+
The Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector

Thy Kingdome Come
English Novena | Spanish Novena