<p><em>Todays reflection notes that some of our popular ideasand even the Scriptural accountsof the Ascension are most likely very far from its historical reality. But beyond the Scripture writers attempts to use their version of this story to speak to readers of that time the Ascension of Jesuswhatever its historical realitycarries a timeless message for all believers.</em></p><div class=oldwebkit>&nbsp;</div><div class=oldwebkit><p>May 21 2023: Feast of the Ascension</p><p>Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11</p><p>Psalm 47:2-3 6-7 8-9</p><p>Ephesians 1:17-23</p><p>Matthew 28:16-20</p><p><em>(In most dioceses around the United States the Feast of the Ascension has been moved to the 7thSunday of Easter. If you are not in one of those areas you can find the Sunday readings <a href=https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052123-Sunday.cfm target=_blank>here</a>.)</em></p><h3>I Am With You: Unpacking the Real Meaning of the Ascension</h3><p><em>A reflection by Marianne Seggerman</em></p><p>In the first reading Jesus cautions the disciples from expecting to know when the second coming will occur. He then proceeds to be lifted up into heaven through a cloud leaving a pair of angels to explain to the perplexed men what just happened. It is an image which is ripe for ridicule by my friends on social media who post items highly critical of Christianity. Sadly in doing so they have bought into the viewpoint that Christianity claims to have all the answers instead of a faith that is asking questions in a deeper and more profound way. From that passageI can just see a cheesy illustration of a man with improbably Western European featuresstraight light brown hair and a Roman nose when the historical Jesus more likely had tight short almost black curls and a bulbous nosedisappearing into a cloud.</p><p>Lets reconstruct the passage. Firstly just who were the Apostles? Why eleven men? I am intrigued by a radical suggestion posed by the late John Spong [Episcopal] bishop of Newark New Jersey. He theorized that the whole idea of Apostles twelve men (naturally) who were somehow more special that the rest of the disciples following Jesus around Judea was created by the early Church to attract their Jewish neighbors to the new community. Twelve was a special number to the Jews of first century CEthink of the twelve tribes of Israel et al. This whole idea makes senseafter all only one of the disciples named as an Apostle was witness to Jesus death.Likewise there were only two on the scene of the resurrection and those two werent even the first at the tomb. The individuals at those two central events in the history of our faith were mostly women. Indeed in the next few verses of Acts of the Apostles the men return to Jerusalem and are joined by a few women some of whom are even mentioned by name.</p><p>It seems that the men who were present for Jesus Ascension even if it didnt quite happen the way it is related to us in the Acts of the Apostles were still expecting Jesus to come and restore an earthy political kingdom. God had a different reign in mind. The second reading from Ephesians isnt too specific as to what is going to be contained in the forthcoming reign of Godbut whatever form it takes it will exist across time and space. Paul as author of the lettersheds light on the Ascension by saying Jesus has taken his place at the right hand of God.</p><p>And so we come to the Gospel. Again with the 12 now down to 11 since Judas killed himself. I find this passage just as improbable an account of actual happenings as Jesus being lifted up into a cloud. When Jesus had so many disciples why single out these few for special powers? Instead I believe the last verse is for all of usI am with you always until the end of the age. A man called Jesus bar Joseph lived on this earth over 2 centuries ago. He led an extraordinary lifenone more so than the last 3 years. He was executed as a common criminal by the Roman state. And yet this Jesus lives onin you and me and all people of good willand will do so until the end of time.</p></div><div class=oldwebkit>&nbsp;</div><div class=mobile-full><img class=mobile-full src=https://www.dignityusa.org/sites/default/files/civicrm/persist/contribute/images/uploads/static/seggerman_1_6c83ae804a23394d58e2e58f5ede9f18_aa79d65915ec14391b52c802268cb89e.png alt= width=166 vspace=0 hspace=0></div><p><em><strong>Marianne Seggerman</strong> joined the chapter of Dignity New Haven around 30 years ago. That chapter is no longer alas but she continues to attend the biannual conference. In her day job she is a computer programmer living (and for the moment working) in Westport Connecticut. She is in a long-term relationship with a person raised Jewish who converted to the Mormon faith.</em></p><p style=text-align:center><a class=btn btn-primary href=https://www.dignityusa.org/civicrm/mailing/subscribe>Subscribe to Breath of the Spirit</a></p>