Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow - Why the Ascension Matters?

Departures are typically sad events, but not always.

When I was a kid, I had a great aunt who we would love to see visit, but we were even more excited when she left. 

You might be imagining someone initially pleasant transforming into demanding irritant within a few days—the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde houseguest.  You’d be wrong!  She was intelligent, patient, loving and full of amazing stories. 

The reason for excitement at her leaving was it meant she was heading out on some mysterious journey to a faraway land.  And with adventures, unique and precious gifts would be coming our way. 

A pair of pajamas from China might appear on the doorstep.  A box from South America stuffed with llama skins could arrive.  Strange coinage and colorful paper money might even fall out of an envelope addressed to us. 

My childhood imagination soared with each of her trips, and I was constantly wishing for her to take another journey into the unknown.  I felt like I had touched a magical place when brown boxes landed at my door. 

Today the Church celebrates the Ascension of Christ and considering emotional roller coaster of denial, crucifixion, and resurrection this departure should have been tragically sad for the disciples.  During the 40 days after the resurrection, Jesus would often appear and disappear, instilling comfort and hope with each encounter.  But now He was leaving for good, but surprisingly it was a departure of joy. 

It is the joy of a promised return and joy of a new adventure with the promise of gifts from a faraway kingdom.  Christ was not merely returning to the Father; He was on a mission.  For on this journey back to the kingdom, He took something new with Him into the presence of His Father.  On this trip, He was clothed in Humanity and this apex of creation stamped with God’s very image comes into a communion barely dreamt of by prophets of old. 

This garment of flesh Jesus shares with us now rests at the throne of heaven bathed in the fire of the Godhead.  Only through this offering, can man receive the promised gift of Christ’s departure—the Holy Spirit. 

For now man, whose flesh is eternally present before God, can contain the presence of God within and not be consumed. 

Shakespeare wrote, "Parting is a sweet sorrow", and this parting brought our glorification.  

Do We Really Believe in Communion?

Here's my last post on the OCN's The Sounding Blog:

Do We Really Believe in Communion?

Why Reality is Communal

Reality is communal.  The fabric of creation, the heart of everything, the meaning and purpose of life, the path to transformation, the very code of our DNA is communal.

If you are a Christian, you believe this.

God is communal.  He is three in one, eternally, never alone.

Because we are God's image we can not escape this need for communion and the effect it has on our lives.

Our molding as persons is linked with who we enter into communion with.

I wonder why I behave the way I do, when I am in communion with those who behave the same.

I wonder why I don't act like Christ, when I neglect communion with Him.

What is communion?  How does it affect your daily life?

The Pearl 7:1 Sharing the Faith of Abraham

St. Ephrem's The Pearl 7:1

As in a race saw I the disputers,
The children of strife,
[Trying]
To taste fire,
To see the air,
To handle the light:
They were troubled at the gleaming,
And struggled to make divisions.

The Son, Who is too subtle for the mind,
Did they seek to feel:
And the Holy Ghost
Who cannot be explored,
They sought to explore with their questionings.
The Father, Who never at any time was searched out,
Have they explained and disputed of.

The sound form of our faith is from Abraham,
And our repentance is from Nineveh and the house of Rahab,
And ours are the expectations of the Prophets,
Ours of the Apostles.


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Comment:  It sounds like those who try to delve into the intricacies of theology through an attitude of questioning run the risk of becoming heretics.  
The model of true faith is not these "disputers", but Abraham.  What does St. Ephrem mean by that?

Why Stuff Matters?

Stuff matters.  Why?

It is part of our salvation, not meant to be sloughed off like an old snake skin, not a prison to escape, not a weight holding you to the earth.  It is a path to salvation and groans for redemption. 

It was created by God and called good, provided as a conduit for man to commune with God. 

God became stuff, and uses stuff to save:  mud to make blind see, handkerchiefs to heal, bones to resurrect, hems of garment to restore, water to wash away leprosy, bronze statues to deliver, rods of wood to bring water from rock, food to sustain, fiber to clothe.

It is infused with the grace of God for our salvation. 

What happens if stuff does not matter?

We neglect and abuse our bodies.  We see others as objects to be used and thrown away.  The earth is exploited because one day it will burn with the rest of the stuff that doesn’t matter. 

One purpose of man is the redemption of this fallen mess.  

We must bless all the stuff of this life, for everything matters and can be infused with the grace of God, leading to our salvation and the salvation of our neighbor.