Going Up

The Ascension is described as Jesus being taken up into Heaven:

““After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes,
and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking
intently up into the sky as he was going ” Acts 1:9-10 NIV

Ascension, by Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 1606 – 1669.

How literally should we take this?

Luke’s simple, brief description in Acts of this event gives little detail, so maybe the way it happened isn’t quite as simple as it would seem at first sight.

Consider this:

Ascension was, in the context of the Bible, ascending into Heaven but it doesn’t need to be in the physical sense. We can also consider it in the spiritual sense, of passing to a higher plane of life or existence, in other words to join our Father.

The people of the time of the ascension, needed to see something they could comprehend to grasp what was happening; they needed to see Jesus rise, or ascend.

Once out of sight, in the cloud, the physical aspect of the Ascension would no longer have been necessary and so it is at this point when the true Ascension happened, where the visible form of our Lord Jesus Christ dissolved, freeing his soul to join The Father in his realm that we call Heaven.

So was what was it that was seen as Jesus ascending? Was it the same physical body of Jesus as before his crucifixion? Maybe not. It may have had the appearance of a normal, human body but perhaps it was no longer fully human as we understand the meaning. Given the miracles of God, the possibility cannot be dismissed out of hand.

Maybe it wasn’t Jesus’ body at all but a visual manifestation like (forgive my example but I can’t think of a better to describe it) God’s version of a solid hologram, like a character from the holodeck in Star Trek. If this were to be the case, maybe Jesus’ true human remains may still exist on earth, to be discovered some day.

None of this should be taken to imply I don’t believe in the ascension; I do. I just present another way of considering the event.

The Last Taboo?

Something I’ve been dying to write about.
Previous post updated following the death of my wife.

Why are died, dead and death, and talking about death such a taboo?

This touching post on the Seeker blog reminded me, perhaps unsurprisingly, of the death firstly of my mother and more recently my late wife. She died in hospital unexpectedly, admitted one day, dead the next. What struck me is how we refer to death or, rather, how we try to avoid referring to it, or at least avoid using the word. We have coined various euphemisms to avoid actually having to say he is dead, or she has died. A few examples that come to mind are:

* Passed away
* Expired,
* Release
* Eternal rest
* At peace
* In heaven
* Long sleep

These are just a few. There are lots more that I don’t know. Tens, maybe more than a hundred ways of saying someone has died, without actually saying it.

Death is it seems, or the word DEATH seems to be the last great taboo, at least here in the so called ‘civilised’, developed world. No one wants to talk about it. It makes people (you?) uncomfortable. They try to avoid talking about it, perhaps change the subject. When I received the phone call from the hospital calling me in, I had an uncomfortable inkling why. Fortunately I got there before she died. She did not die alone in a strange place. I was lucky, having a special friend who drove me to the hospital and stayed with me. It made a difficult, sad time a little easier.

When I talked with the undertaker, even he didn’t use the word died. Perhaps a deference to most peoples’ taboo.  From what I remember, hardly anyone actually used the word death for my late wife. Only one or two people actually said died. “I am sorry to hear your wife has died”, or something similar. Most found some way of not saying died, dead or death.

Making a will, to say how your estate and effects should be distributed after death, makes it easier for a family to deal with a death. It removes many legal complications. People know this, I think, but making a will means they have to think about their (your) own mortality. People do not want to do that. Yet death is the only absolute certainty in life from the day we are born. The only question is when.

It is my experience that those who have a faith of any religion or denomination, are more sanguine and more willing to talk about death than those who have no faith. There is no study, survey or science behind this, it is just what I think based on people I know. People of faith seem more willing to talk about death, without trying to skirt the issue. They also seem less concerned with their own mortality; they are anxious about the manner of dying but not of death itself.

Life, to a big extent, usually follows some kind of informal plan, albeit loose. We are born, we play as children, we are educated as adolescents, we work as adults and we retire as we get older. Somewhere in those stages we die. Hopefully only after the ‘get older’ bit. The trouble is, we never know when death will come, it is something we can make provision for but cannot plan for.

This taboo needs to be killed off (pun intended).

“Death come to everyone, but in Mort’s case he offered him a job”
From Mort, the fourth Discworld novel, by Terry Prattchet.

Related articles

• About Death and Dying (listenraza.wordpress.com)
• death is no euphemism (modolty.wordpress.com)

Candlemass

The way it might have been (Luke 2: 21-39).

The couple, a young woman in her teens, not much more than a girl really, by the name of Mary, and a slightly older man called Joseph approached the entrance to the temple. The girl was shielding their child in her arms, almost 6 weeks old now, from the bustle of the crowd around them jostling to get in. The the man, a carpenter by trade, carried a small wooden cage, that he had probably made himself, that two doves in it. They had come to the temple for the rite of purification, according to the Law of Moses.

There was a slow moving queue of people inching along to get in to the temple. Eventually they passed between the Roman guards at the entrance, into the outer temple courts and into the hubbub of business being conducted with only slightly less press of the crowd around them than in the queue at the gate, whilst they had waited to enter.

Quickly scanning their surroundings, taking in the tables of the money changers and the traders selling animals and birds for sacrifice, the man led the way through the crowd to a quieter corner, where they could briefly escape the milling bodies, if not the noise. They stood there for a few minutes the man casting his eyes around the stalls, especially those of the money changers.

Seeming to make up his mind about something, he asked the young woman to wait and made his way over to the table of one of the money changers. He had not been watching idly for those few minutes. He had been looking to see which of the money changers stalls appeared to be the busiest, so might be offering the most temple coin in exchange for the few denarius he could afford. He approached the table he had selected and after exchanging the usual pleasantries with the portly trader, he got down to the serious business of haggling, as was expected. After a few minutes of hard bargaining, he exchanged his few denarius for even fewer temple coins and then made his way back to Mary and his child.

After quickly showing her the few Temple coins he had procured, they threaded their way betwen the stalls and crowds, making for the entrance to the inner temple court. As they passed inside, dropping their few temple coins into the clay collection jar under the watchful eyes of the temple guards on their way, they were relieved to find themselves in a quieter, much less crowded area. That relief did not last very long however because although they were glad to escape the milling crowds and the noise, with so few people about the inner court they now felt uncomfortably exposed, without the crowd to hide in.

A man came towards them, a priest of the temple dressed in a simple, plain but good quality robe, making the man feel somewhat self concious about his own patched, threadbare garment and worn sandals. Upon reaching the family, the priest who had been followed a few steps behind by a young man, a temple servant, stopped and waited for the servant to catch up. Stopping beside the priest, the young man held out his hands expectantly but did not say anything. The priest apologised for the lad, explaining that he was unable to speak but that he would take the offering of doves from them.

After the boy had taken the cage with the doves, the priest asked them to follow him. Joseph, wary and rather taken aback said, without moving to follow, “You seem to have been expecting us?” The priest stopped and turning apologised for his manners, for not introducing himself immediately and said to them “I’m Simeon and although I don’t know your names, I knew you’d come”. He told them that God had sent His Holy Spirit to him with a prophesy that he would see with his own eyes Israel’s saviour, the Messiah. It was that Spirit that had moved Simeon on that day and at that time to come out into the temple court. When he saw them, he knew that the child they carried was the fulfilment of the prophesy. The baby’s father and mother looked at each other and something unspoken passed between them. They gave Simeon their names; Joseph the Carpenter and his wife Mary and the boy’s name, Jesus.

Although still a little unsure, Mary and Joseph allowed the Priest, Simeon, to take baby Jesus into his arms and they followed him into the cool of the temple keep. Looking down into the baby boy’s eyes, Simeon said:

Sovereign Lord, as you promised to me that before my death, I would see your salvation,
I see in the eyes of this child that You have kept that promise and I will be able to depart in peace.
I see in this child salvation for a broken world, for Jew and gentile alike.

Joseph and Mary could hardly believe their ears for what Simeon had said about their son, then he blessed them all and speaking directly to Mary told her that, their son was going to shake the world. That he was going to bring many down and that others would be raised up through him. He also said something very worrying to Mary, when he told her that their son would one day be a cause for great sorrow and grief to her ‘like a sword through her heart’, as he put it.

There was an old woman a friend of Simeon, a prophetess called Anna, who lived in the temple and she too came out to see the child. She had been married only seven years before her husband had died and now she spent her time fasting and praying, never leaving the temple. She greeted them all warmly, especially her friend Simeon, before praising God for the child and offering him thanks for the boy, who would be the saviour of Jerusalem.

It had taken Mary and Joseph, with their son, Jesus, hours to get into the temple and meet with Simeon and Anna. Once there, the whole experience seemed to be over in moments before they found themselves, slightly bemused, on their way out again. They negotiated the milling crowds this time preoccupied and hardly noticing the hubbub around them. Once outside, it didn’t take them long to get back to their rented room, where they discussed deep into the night everything that Simeon and Anna had told them. The next day they set out back to their home by Galilee, where Joseph would be able to resume his carpentry whilst their son grew.

Intercession Prayer

For Sunday 14th April 2024

Heavenly Father, Source of strength and creator, lead us and guide us as we continue our journey through this Easter season. As we travel the path you have laid out for us, we offer this prayer in the name of Your Son who died for us at Calvary and rose again.

As we look around the world you created, we are saddened by the conflict we see. We pray for Ukraine and Russia, Israel, Palestine and Gaza and for all the places where violence is no longer considered newsworthy as the wider conflicts rage. Give our politicians and leaders the courage and wisdom to find ways to end these conflicts and so to save lives.

We think also of domestic conflicts and abuse, sometimes violent, sometimes mentally controlling, often hidden inside the closed doors of a home. Usually committed by a man against a woman, sometimes children.

Heavenly Father, help victims to find a way out of their situation and to find a safe place to live. Make the perpetrators aware of the damage their behaviour causes, not just to the victims but to themselves. Help and support those chellenging such behaviour, like the Mothers’ Union RISE UP campaign, and organisations offering safe spaces to help victims rebuild lives.

Healer God, we pray for the unwell and the injured in body, mind or spirit. Give strength to sustain them through illness and recovery. Give medical personnel Your wisdom to treat their patients. Give compassion and support to those caring for someone at home, especially if they do so alone, and we offer You the cares and concerns of our own hearts.

We place into your gentle hands those that have passed from this earthly world and have now risen to rest in peace with You, our God. Comfort those who in their grief mourn the loss of a friend or partner, brother or sister, or someone from their family.

Whist we see the conflict around us, reported or hidden, yet amongst the fear and worry we look for signs of hope. We see new life as plants and flowers bloom in the new spring season. As the flowers turn their heads towards the sun, let us each look toward the future with hope, reaching into the light, almighty Father.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son our saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

To download and print this prayer click here

Is It A Ghost?

An unexpected appearance.

Christ Appears to the Apostles Behind Closed Doors, by Duccio di Buoninsegna ca. 1255 – 1319

For a week now they had been keeping a low profile. Whilst not exactly in hiding, they were taking care to do nothing that might draw attention to themselves. As a precaution none of them went out alone and when they did, it was only for necessities. Didymus and Mary were out at the market, buying food.

The rest of them were in the upper room locked in, talking quietly amongst themselves as they had been for most of the week. It was not locked to keep them in but to keep others out, because they were afraid. They only unlocked it to re-admit one of their own. From time-to-time a voice would be raised as discussion turned to argument. The speaker quickly told to hush by the others, fearful that too much noise might draw unwanted attention.

Outside, shadows were lengthening and light failing. The sun dipped towards the horizon; soon they would have to light the lamps. The last rays of sun shone through the windows and where it fell was lit by the warm, evening light. Away from the windows, where those last shafts of light did not reach, the shadows deepened until they seemed even darker than the night that would come. Yet as dark as those shadows were, in the darkest corner it seemed to darken even more, thickening into an impenetrable, obsidian blackness.

Bartholomew saw it first. The others, after noticing he had fallen silent, turned to follow his eyes to where he was staring. Most of then stayed stock still, frozen to the spot they occupied. Some were holding their breath. Philip and Thaddeus edged closer to the door, ready to make a run for it. Finally James, the Son of Alphaeus, reached for a lamp and after a couple of unsuccessful attempts at lighting, a small flame guttered into life. Picking up the lamp and holding it out toward the darkened corner he moved closer.

As he approached and the flickering light lifted the shadows, they began to make out a figure, the shape of a man. A moment later the man moved. With an unhurried but sure footstep he came forward, stepping past James into the last shaft of sunlight in the room. Those closest took an involuntary step back and James dropped the lamp. At the same time his jaw dropped at the sight of who stood before them. When the lamp hit the floor and shattered, everyone jumped, startled. Fortunately, when the lamp dropped it went out so did not ignite the spilled oil.

The sons of Zebedee, were the first to speak, saying almost together ‘Teacher’. Everyone in that room had witnessed miracles but this was beyond their wildest imagination. Even those who had believed Mary Magdelene, when she had first returned from the open tomb a week earlier and said their teacher was alive, were taken aback. A second later there was a joyous uproar as the ten men there saw their Lord alive and well, bearing scars.

As the uproar began to subside Jesus said ‘Peace be with you.’ He had to repeat it to get their full attention. He continued ‘As the Father has sent me I am sending you.’ and as he breathed the Holy Spirit over them.  ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’.

Diddymus and Mary were not back from the market so did not see Jesus. When they were told about how he had appeared to them, Didymus did not believe them. He wanted to see it for himself.

A week went by and when the eleven remaining disciples were again gathered together in the upper room, Jesus appeared again. After greetings were exchanged he addressed himself directly to Didymus. He knew that, that disciple had doubts and needed reassurance. Jesus showed him the wounds where the nails had pierced his hands and feet, and the spear was stabbed into his side.

Didymus reached out tentatively, twice withdrawing his hand, wanting to touch the Master but fearing to do so. He did not know if he was more afraid that this was Jesus come back to them, or that it was not the man he had known. Eventually, needing proof one way or the other, he resolved to touch the wounds.

Meeting Jesus’ eyes fully for the first time, he pointed to the wound in Jesus’ hand and was given an almost imperceptible nod of permission. Closing the distance from pointing to touching Didymus gently felt the uneven swelling around the wound in his master’s hand and the deep depression where the nail had penetrated. As he touched his friend and teacher, he could not help a sharp in take of breath, just as Jesus had done when the nail was driven through into the rough cross.

Didymus eyes flicked back and forth between Jesus face and his side, while he reached to where Jesus had parted his robe, exposing the angry scar where the spear had gone. He ran his finger tips along the scar, carefully so as not to cause pain by his touch. A moment later Didymus, usually known as Thomas, fell to his knees grazing them on the rough wood floor and, clutching at Jesus robe. He cried out ‘My Lord, my God’.

Based on John 20: 19-31

Easter Letter Home

A Roman soldier’s letter about Easter.

Dear Mum,

Sorry I didn’t write sooner. It’s been manic here in Jerusalem.

As I said in my last letter, my cohort is posted here to keep order during the passover. We’ve hardly had a moment to rest since Wednesday night. Of course as lowly legionnaires no one tells us what’s going on, just what to do.

It all started on Thurdsay, with a guy the Jews seem to think is their king coming into Jerusalem on a donkey. Not a horse mind, as most kings would ride, a donkey.

The crowd was whipped into a frenzy throwing cloaks and palm leaves down along the road into Jerusalem as this guy called Jesus worked his way down to the temple. He nearly started a riot there, tipping over tables and throwing out merchants. Anyway with him in the town, we were ordered to keep an eye on him and his mates. I was unlucky, I was ordered onto the night watch.

Thursday night and the Jesus guy goes to a garden, Gethsemene, I think. We’re ordered to follow him. When we get there, one of the men there kisses another. We’re ordered to arrest the guy that was kissed. Turns out he was the Jesus fellow. The other guy had betrayed him.

I was off duty Friday, but a mate told me what happened. The Jesus guy who was arrested got flogged, and later crucified. Someone called Joseph something took him down from the cross, to put him in a tomb.

Saturday was pretty subdued, not surprising after a crucifixion, but Sunday all hell broke loose. I didn’t see it myself but apparently this Jesus’ tomb was found open by a some women. His body was gone. Rumours were that he had risen from the dead. There’s all sorts of reports of sightings by people claiming to have seen him, perhaps hoping for a reward.

I can’t say much more, Mum. Shortly after the tomb was discovered empty, my unit was sent back to their usual duties, now the passover festival is over. I might hear more when other units return.

I’ll try and write again soon but you know how it is when we get posted to different units.

Bye for now,

Your Son,

Nemo.

The Diary Of Nemo, a Roman Soldier. Week of the Passover circa 0033 AD: Palm Sunday

First in a series of daily posts for Easter week, reprised from Easter 2013.

Introduction.

 These recently discovered diary entries were apparently written by an unknown Roman soldier, whom I have called Nemo (Latin: no-one).

In translation from the original ancient script, I have taken the liberty of adding days from the modern calendar and using language more familiar to today’s readers.

Monday here.

The Donkey

An unexpected parade. A different look at Mark 11: 1-11.

Entry into Jerusalem
by Giotto circa. 1267 – 1337

I wondered what was going on when two strangers started to untie my rein from the hitching post. I’m just a young colt, so I was worried.

A couple of guys standing nearby, who know my owner, asked the strangers what they were doing taking me. The strangers just said that “The boss needs him. He’ll be back soon.” It seemed to satisfy my owner’s mates. A moment later I was being led away by the strangers. I guess one of my owner’s friends went to tell him what happened.

It didn’t take long for me to be lead out of town, to where another eleven guys were waiting. Clearly one of them was their leader. The blokes bringing me said to him, “here’s the colt you wanted boss. Then a couple of cloaks were slung over my back.

Next thing I know, the leader guy is on my back on top of the cloaks. Then we’re off back into Jerusalem. What I really didn’t expect was the gathering crowd. People were throwing down cloaks and palm leaves as we went and shouting Hosanna. Am I carrying some kind of celebrity, I wondered? We got as far as the temple and this Jesus guy dismounts.

It was quite late by then, so he sends a couple of people, to return me to where I’d been shanghaied . I’m not sure what the point of it all was since, just before I lost sight of them all, they seemed to be leaving town again already.

Intercession Prayer

For Sunday 18th February 2024 during Lent.

Creator and life giving God who loves all equally, hear our prayer, offered in the name of our redeemer and saviour, Your son Jesus Christ.

As we journey through the time of Lent towards Easter, let us remember that it does not have to be a time of giving something up. Rather, it can be a time of giving.

Guide those leading Lent groups. Give each of us the opportunities to put into practice what we learn in those studies.

In our troubled world we look to our leaders, to be guided by Your wisdom, to work for peace in places like Palestine, Ukraine and wherever there might be conflict and suffering.

We bring to You the civilians not involved in conflict but affected by it. Comfort and strengthen those who have lost homes, livelihoods and people close to them.

As the season turns and winter recedes, gardens and fields begin to shoot with new life. Thank you for the flowers, clothed in beauty unmatched by human creation. While we give thanks the young crops that will feed us, we remember those whose crops might fail because of poor soil or drought, especially the subsistence farmers trying only to grow enough to feed a family.

Loving Father we bring to You the hurt in body, mind or spirit. Be with the unwell and the injured. Reassure all that by the skill of medical staff and, and all those who care for them, that they are restored to health and relieved of pain. We think also of those struggling to feed families, pay essential bills and keep shelter over their heads. The lonely, frightened and those seeking employment.

In a few moments of quiet we name those in our own hearts and place into your hands our own cares and concerns.

Loving Lord, Your Son showed us the way out of darkness. Walk with us as we try to travel His path. Lift us when we stumble. Direct us when we lose our way and guide us by Your Holy Spirit.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

A Child’s Truth Of Lent.

A true story told to my by Anneka’s grandmother.

Little Anneka (aged 3 at the time this story was told to me by a friend) asked her Mum, Angela, why they had pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and what Lent is. Mum, although not religious herself, explained about using up food ingredients to make pancakes and about Jesus fasting in the desert for 40 days.

After this was explained to Anneka, she exclaimed that Jesus could have half her pancake and that she would make him sandwiches too, so he wouldn’t be hungry.

Lent is not just about giving something up, but about giving something. It took the kindness of a child to remind me of this simple truth.

I hope it reminds you too.