Living in Joyful Expectation

Ascension Thursday. For New Englanders, perhaps it's taking a back seat to the tornado disaster in central Massachusetts or the Bruin's 1-0 loss to the Canucks in the last 18 seconds. These, only a small segment of the massive "imperfection" of the human condition, remind us that "nothing is perfect in this world." We can imagine the dismay of the Disciples as Jesus returned to heaven. Their three-year blissful "schooling" in his presence as they grew from ordinary fishermen or tax collectors to men who would dynamically change the world, seemed to come to an abrupt end. "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?" (Acts. 1: 11) Do we find ourselves in their shoes, eyes looking longingly for answers, help, assurance? Sometimes our faith even wavers. Matthew tells us that just before the ascension, "The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. Whey they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted." (Mt 28: 16-17). We are not alone. Thankfully, the angel who spoke to them (us) gives us hope: "This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven." (Acts 1:11). Despite all the tragedies, disasters and disappointments inevitably part of our lives, we are encouraged to live in joyful expectation for his return. We have been commissioned to bring the message to the ends of the earth, and are reminded that Jesus remains with us till the end of time. Rather than a period of woeful waiting, it is our task to make it a period of joyful mission.
Bro. Rene