Ascension Rise UP in Power

I love that image in Acts of the Apostles of the guys standing there, looking up, with their mouths opened...and the angel basically saying, “Stop that.  Go!  Do your mission!”

Then we have Matthew’s Great Commission, the work, the mission; to go baptize all in the name of the Holy Trinity .

It's the phrases though in the middle of this scene that centers us on the essence of our mission: power and Baptism

Jesus says all power has been given to him.  He literally Ascends to the power and in power.

What power is he talking about?

We must be careful here.  When we get this wrong, when we misinterpret “power” then we hurt the mission of the church, hurt others and hurt ourselves.

There is a stupid joke out there that illustrates the understanding of power for many...
“If God is so powerful, can God create a boulder so heavy that even God could not lift it?”

This betrays an imperialistic, macho version of Power.
Power is to control. Power is Might!  Power is doing what I want!

Look at how we use it:  we call America the most powerful nation on earth.  Why?  
We ascribe to our political leaders “power.”   Why?

God completely rejects this and overturns this attitude, this philosophy, this mind set.

Jesus’ Hour of Glory, as John calls is, was the Cross.
The Son of God, the almighty, omnipotent God, dead on a cross.
Because he utterly and completely trusted in the Love of the Father.
He was thoroughly rooted as a person as the Beloved Son.

Jesus’ power is that he roots his identity completely in the Father, and rooted as sch he gave of himself for love of others, us.

That is Power!

Power lets go.  Power gives.  Power loves.
Power is not trying to force, nor control, nor manipulate, nor coerce.

God the Father, through the Son in the Holy Spirit, did create all; our Trinitarian God sustains all.
And loves and says to us, “I am not going to micro-manage you.  I trust you.  I invite you to be free as I am free.  I give all to you.”

If you want a fancy word, it’s called kenosis, meaning self-emptying.

The Son knowing the Father, and seeing how the Father lived power, manifested this in our world.
He healed, forgave, welcomed, he surrendered himself.

The Resurrection validates this life.  
The Resurrection reveals this is the path of life.  
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ reveals what true power is.

Our commission, to baptize, means we live the same life of power.

We need to be baptize people in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit by…
Forgiving others when angry and hurt, and asking for forgiveness when we have done the hurt.
...By our generosity to those who are in need.
...By extending mercy, compassion, kindness.

With power, we place aside our individual wants and needs, to hearing those of others, and make different decisions for the good.

This is what Francis has been calling us to remember since elected as Pope...and clearly some people are upset, because they clearly think of power as the ability to control others, not serve others.

You know the most powerful person I experience was my maternal grandfather.  He was the most gentle of men.  He gave so much to us a kids, time.  He made bamboo fishing poles for us.  He made little wooden toys for us.  He spent time just being with us:  A very calming presence.

Yet...others I have met, so many people are not this way.
I just think of the suffering hear in people:  full of bitterness, sadness, frustration.  
Their lives are chaotic because they obsess over the wrong kind of power.

Marriages suffer for it.
Friendships suffer for it.
People burn out for it in their jobs and in their ministry
The violence, corruption, Racism, sexism all products of wrong thinking and living of power.

Jesus Christ calls us to be, think and act differently.
Jesus Christ reveals the powerful God, and thereby reveals a powerful Person.

He calls us to expand ourselves, to grow and transform ourselves as persons, to meditate on how we are living, and how we can live better, with more freedom.

The Powerful ones don’t get our attention...they quietly give, help, serve, love.   They live fruitful marriages.  


Eucharist makes this all real to us.
This powerful person, the one who forgave, welcomed, healed, and gave of himself for the life of the world, continues to give of himself to us in the bread and wine.

In this most subtle, sublime way.

Given to us, so that we too can be powerful persons; those that will forgive, welcome heal and give of ourselves.
And we can rise up...


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