We hear this story of the Ascension of Jesus from the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. “As they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. ¹¹ They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” ¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³ When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴ All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.” (Acts 1:10-14)
The last part of our mystagogy is meditating on what are we to do now? Given the transformation that has occurred in our lives because of our suffering, the dying of some parts of our lives, and arising again, what is the ministry that awaits us? We are reminded in this stage of our Paschal journey, that everything remains encased in mystery. Who we are now, and what we are to do next will be revealed to us, but not by our command to be revealed, but at that time when we will be most receptive for that revelation. During this time, it may seem to us that we, like the apostles are just standing around and looking up in the sky. As the two angels remind the apostles, we just can’t stand there looking up in the sky. As Luke illustrates in his account here, ALL of the disciples went back to Jerusalem to the upper room, and prepared themselves for that revelation in prayer.
As you meditate on this music, what are the steps you have used to prepare to receive the revelation of “what’s next” for our life? How do you pray in preparation? How do you feel? Frustrated? Anxious? Peaceful?
