2007 Devotional Guide
for ELCA Congregation Councils and Committees

The Ascension — Left Behind
May 2007 by Margaret Payne

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. —Luke 24:50–52

Left behind? The truth is that we have all been left behind by Jesus. The story of the ascension is both a lesson in theology and an encouragement for mission. Since Jesus ascended into heaven, we live in the power of the Holy Spirit that God gives those who have been “left behind” to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Sixteenth-century artists had a healthy sense of humor. One famous woodcut of the ascension shows awe-struck disciples at the bottom of the page, and two dangling feet —their last view of Jesus—hanging down from the top. Telling the story of Jesus can be playful as well as serious. The account of the ascension reminds us that we have been left behind in a very human world to do Jesus’ work, and we need a good sense of humor as well as deep faith to get the job done.

When Jesus ascended into heaven the church became the body of Christ for the world. We need many different kinds of people in the church with many different gifts to continue the ministry of Jesus, and the job of leaders is to identify and evoke the gifts that God has placed in the congregation.

Sometimes those gifts shine most brightly in the vocations of the baptized in the world, and sometimes they enrich and empower the work of the church. Each congregation is filled with gifted people who can help to fill the gap that Jesus left. The ministry of each congregation is shaped by the gifts of the people as well as the needs of the community. We become the church most fully when we discover and use all the gifts that God has sent to us. Each of us is a part of the story. We have all been left behind as messengers of God’s grace for the world.

Prayer
Ascended and eternal Lord, we give you thanks for your love and trust in us to do the work of your kingdom. Thank you for the gifts that have been gathered in this community. We ask that you give us the wisdom to welcome them and weave them into our ministry. Amen.

For Reflection or Discussion
What gifts does this congregation have that we have not yet used to strengthen our witness?

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