Walking with Jesus: Feast of the Ascension of the Lord A

For Sunday, May 17, 2026

Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:17-23, Matthew 28:16-20


As we journey through the seasons of the Church, we marvel at how they duplicate our faith journey: Advent brings us to a culmination of how much God loves each of us — God the Father sent Jesus to show us God’s total love for all and how everyone is important to God. Then we arrive at the Season of Lent and we spend time listening to reflections on the Messianic prophecies of how God proves His love by dying in a horrible crucifixion and rejection by His Jewish nation and religion. As we progress into the Easter season, Jesus puts into all of our minds the purpose of God’s plan. It isn’t a once-and-done occurrence — the Apostles, the early Christian believers, and we today, are called upon to be witnesses to this love. This is the focal point of today’s Ascension feast.

God is telling us how Jesus is present in our world and our individual lives. Today’s feast is the day when Christ is publicly established as Lord of our world. We celebrate the conclusion of Christ’s redemption: After dying and rising, He ascends to glory in Heaven and is crowned victorious. All the words we can use are insufficient to explain the wonder, beauty, glory and meaning of God in our lives. God’s plan has been accomplished and the end product is the promise that each of us has a place reserved in heaven. Today Jesus is publicly acclaimed as Lord and king, and He is glorified as Messiah and universal Savior for all time.

So what does this mean? It means that God has communicated Himself clearly and conclusively, and our hope is secure.

Acts starts out referring to a “first book” — in all likelihood the Gospel of Luke. Luke again addresses the person Theophilus as he did at the opening of his Gospel: “Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.” [Luke 1:1-3] This man’s name means “lover of God.” He may have been a patron of Luke, the author, and responsible for the circulation of Luke’s writings. Acts helps connect the Gospel of Luke and its story of Jesus with that of the early Christian movement and its fledgling local communities. Several important events are seen in its first two chapters: First is the transition between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, where Jesus instructs His disciples about the “Kingdom of God.” Second is the promise of the Holy Spirit — how God is daily and constantly present in the whole life of every Christian. The Holy Spirit will make everything possible. Third, now we are the Christian witness to the word. Do we think about this? Why not? This is why I was created — why everyone was created — not just to sit and relax and enjoy living, but to let all understand that God loves each of us and needs each of us daily to be love to each person in our lives — and to the lives of all in the world.

Paul is writing to the Ephesians, encouraging them to consider their unique status — chosen by God to be witnesses, to everyone, all the time. This is the same status each of us has. Every gift we have received from the Spirit is for this purpose. In several places Paul describes Christ and the Christian communion as a living organism sharing one life: the life of the Spirit. Nothing is beyond God’s rule. Christ’s glory fills the universe. As Christians we are granted the wisdom and insight to live lives as Jesus taught and exemplified — in love!

The apostles and early disciples were people just like us. They had families and business commitments and tried to make a living while simultaneously living lives differently than before: They now lived love. They were aware of each other and those who were hurting; they took notice of those who had seen, never seen, or never even heard of Jesus; and they now realized that they were to be different. They knew that in light of Jesus’ life, teachings, and example, they were not focused merely on saving themselves and their families — they were living purposefully, doing things to make a difference in people’s lives and the world. Matthew expresses this is so interestingly, writing that when they saw Jesus’ ascension, “They worshiped, but they doubted ... now … go and make disciples of all nations.” [Matthew 28:17,19]

So, once again, the remaining and ever-present question is: How are you … how am I ... to live and act each day? How am I to make a difference in people’s lives and the world? Matthew describes this in his 25th chapter, when Jesus describes the Judgment of the Nations and those who enter heaven. Paraphrasing: How can I/you make a difference ... how can I make it so that fewer will be hungry, thirsty, naked, ill, homeless, and imprisoned?

So I reflect on:

• Am I ready to learn as I teach? Am I willing to become vulnerable in my own ignorance and prejudice as I proclaim the kingdom of God to others?
• How often do I find strength in hope during adversity? Do I allow the Holy Spirit to sustain me?

Sacred Space 2026 states:

“Be with the disciples today as they experience a little of God’s grandeur and magnificence. Even with so much evidence around them, while some worshipped Him, others doubted and withheld belief. Which group would I have been in? If among the worshippers, I ask for the grace to continue in that mode, and if I find myself among the doubters, I use the phrase, ‘Lord, I believe, help my weak belief.’”