A Homily by The Most Rev. John T. Cahoon, Jr.
Metropolitan, Anglican Catholic Church, and Rector, St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
Ascension Day, May 21, 1998
Jesus said to his disciples, "When the Holy Ghost is come, he will reprove the world of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more." He was telling them--one of the things the Holy Ghost is going to do when I send him is to show the world who was really right about God. The proof that I am the one who knows what he is talking about when he talks about God is that I am going to go back up to be with my father, and you are not going to see me any more.
The Ascension is the most astonishing and wholly and unquestionably miraculous event of Jesus' life. So he was born--lots of people are born, and since he looked convincingly human, who knows if the whole thing about the angel and the virgin mother was true? Resurrected from the dead--maybe he never really died, maybe he faked it somehow-maybe he only let himself look dead so it could seem that he rose again.
But an Ascension into the sky--it is difficult to imagine how one would go about faking that. If we can take what St. Luke tells us at face value--and there is no reason to take in everything else he says and question this--if we take St. Luke at his word, then Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and in plain sight of his disciples took off from the earth up up and away into the sky until he went into a cloud and they could not see him any more.
There are two other quite obvious reasons the Ascension took place. First of all, he told the disciples, "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."
Jesus had to go away so the Holy Ghost could come. As long as Jesus was on earth, the presence and power of God were localized in him. If he went back to heaven, the presence and power of God could be everywhere all the time and available to everyone.
The second most powerful reason for the Ascension is that it gives us a preview of our own ascensions. We shall follow Jesus up into heaven just as we follow him through birth, death, burial, and resurrection. Again he told the disciples, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
For us now, in the midst of this transitory life, we have the guarantee of how our story is going to end--exalted to the right hand of the throne of God, sitting in heavenly places with Christ. If it were not so, he would have told us.
REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS, HOW HE SAID, IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE
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Upcoming Events
Ascension Day Service, Thursday May 26, 12 noon
Sunday Services, 7:45, 9:00 & 11:15 AM nursery care provided during 9 & 11:15 AM services (for online participation for the services go to: https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland/ )
Nursery at 9:00 AM & 11:15 AM Services
Sunday School, 10:30 AM
Wednesday at Noon – Holy Communion
Next Vestry meeting in September
Please pray for everyone on the parish's prayer list that is in the attached bulletins.
Your Food Donations are Greatly Needed
Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Christ House is very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar). Current needs include the following:
• canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
• peanut butter
• jelly
• tuna
• canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
• individual fruit cups (low sugar)
• canned fruit (low sugar)
• cereal (low sugar)
• pasta (regular and gluten-free)
• instant potatoes
• Macaroni & cheese kits
• Coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
Updated list: MaRIH Center is also in great need of our help (crisis pregnancy center)
MaRIH Center with its all volunteer staff has been providing help to mothers-to-be and mothers in need. If you can provide some of the items that are needed, please do so. (You can leave the donations where the food for the food bank is collected on the pew in the undercorft.)
Especially Needed
Baby wipes (an ongoing great need)
Diapers (sizes 4, 5, & 6)
Clothing
Bibs
Sleep Sacks: Girls 0-6 mos.
Socks: Boy/Girl 2T
Short sleeved onesies: Boy/Girl 3-6 mos.
Others
Diaper rash ointment
Baby shampoo
Ascension Sunday Bulletin for 7:45 AM & 9:00 AM Services
Ascension Sunday Bulletin for 11:15 AM Service
The Collect, The Epistle, & The Gospel for Ascension Sunday
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