He ascended into heaven

Photo by Sebastien Gabriel on Unsplash

I have this amazing image in my mind about what it must have been like to witness Jesus’ ascension first hand. But it’s probably more influenced by movies I’ve seen than anything else.

He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:9-11 NASB

We know it was up. We know there were clouds. We know He rose into the sky, or heaven, depending on the translation.

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Ascension

Photo by Scott Rodgerson on Unsplash

The resurrected Son of God left us after just a few weeks – forty days in the Christian tradition.

But there was so much more to learn! There still is, nearly 2000 years later!

At some stage, you have to let your kiddos grow up and navigate the world in their own way.

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Peace

Photo by J A N U P R A S A D on Unsplash

We just witnessed the greatest miracle of all time. God’s Son left us, then returned on the third day. Or at least that’s what they’re telling us.

Of course it doesn’t feel like a miracle right now. Only the benefit of time will show us the salvation of all humanity.

Jesus is here with us. His words? “Peace be with you.”

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Virgin Mary

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Our mother Mary was, herself, born without sin. That’s why this feast day is about Mary’s conception, not that of Jesus.

One explanation that I’ve heard of this is that the Ark of the Covenant must be unblemished. And since Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant, Jesus, it is appropriate that she also be unblemished.

So it’s about faith, not scientific proof. And I’m quite fine with that.

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Bread that came down from heaven

Photo by Kate Remmer on Unsplash

Today we’re ending the readings called the “bread of life discourse” from the book of John. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, and we’ll spend an entire lifetime learning what this means.

God’s only Son, the ever-eternal Christ, came to us as Jesus of Nazareth. He gave His body, His entire life, to have us join with God.

As an analytic engineer type, my natural question is: So how does THAT work? Well, I’ve decided this is the wrong question.

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