A Devotion for Easter 7: Blessing in the Leaving

Word of Life mural by Millard Sheets

This week in the church calendar, many churches celebrate what’s known as Ascension Sunday. This marks the day that Jesus ascended into Heaven after spending 40 days after his resurrection on earth with his disciples.

From Luke 24:

"Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. "

Does anyone else find it funny or strange how joyful the disciples are once Jesus ascends? I understand the theological significance of Jesus’ words and actions, and why it is a good and wonderful thing that he returns to heaven to be with the Father.

But the disciples have just lost their best friend. Again. I might be bummed out, at least for a bit.

I mean, it’s hard being left, isn’t it?

My husband Travis and I got used to this phenomenon in graduate school. We lived in Durham, North Carolina, an area with several colleges and universities. Because of this, the community was transient in nature, with friends and colleagues graduating, taking jobs elsewhere, and moving away nearly every year. This also meant that there was a new crop of students moving in each fall, and we would see our church attendance ebb and flow with the rhythms of university town life.

I remember talking to a close friend about it the first year we were there. She remarked, “Yes, I know it’s hard for people to leave. But I think it might be even harder to be left.”

And I think she’s right. When we leave a place, we usually leave with a sense of excitement or anticipation; we have before us an empty slate, a new adventure.

But when someone goes and we are left – how do we cope with the hole they leave?

Which is why I’m so initially baffled about the disciples’ reactions in this week’s Scripture.

What blessing in Jesus’ leaving did they see or feel?

Perhaps they understood that this was a part of the plan the whole time. That in leaving once again, Jesus was doing what he had promised all along. He has given them his blessing, and it is in leaving that the blessing is fulfilled.

In our work, there is a lot of “being left.” Whether it’s closing a case, a volunteer team leaving after a week of work, or the feeling that our clients experience after the tumult of the storm – feeling left can be a difficult place to find yourself.

When Jesus left, it was a signal that a new era was dawning. The disciples would continue the work Jesus had begun, with the help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus leaving also allowed space for new communities to grow – for the message and ministry of Christ to travel and fill new spaces, places, and people.

If there is blessing in Jesus’ leaving, what blessing might leaving have in our own lives?

Perhaps you are feeling left behind this day, by a relationship, an opportunity, or by life in general. Maybe you’re grieving the loss of a dear person in your life, and you’re wondering what is next.

Our initial reaction to leaving or being left doesn’t have to mirror the joy that the disciples experienced. It’s ok to wonder where is the blessing in this leaving?

This Sunday, as we prepare to leave the season of Easter and journey into Ordinary Time, what blessing do you seek? What word or signal of grace and love do you need to fill you and sustain you to be a blessing in this world?

Is there a blessing that might depend on letting something go (or freeing yourself from something) so a space is created for blessing to enter?

In all things, know that you are loved beyond measure.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

In Christ’s peace,

Chaplain Amy