Interestingly, on the Monday after the Feast of Pentecost, one of the Daily Office readings is taken from the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles and it is the account of Jesus’ ascension:
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’
So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards 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.’
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 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. 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: 1-14).
“The Acts of the Apostles” should really be called “the Acts of the Holy Spirit.” It is only through the Holy Spirit that the Apostles are able to do what they do. We see in today’s passage that the Apostles still don’t get what Jesus’ kingship and kingdom are about. They ask Jesus: ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ They are still awaiting, to some extent, the glory days of Israel. They have witnessed Jesus’ public ministry, his death and resurrection, but it is not until the Holy Spirit comes that the Apostles finally get what Jesus is about. Some of the sanctifying gifts the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding and courage. We see this gifts unfold in the lives of the Apostles in the Book of Acts. I urge you to look for the unfolding of the Holy Spirit’s gifts in your life.
Let us pray: O God, on Pentecost you taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Thank you to everyone who made Pentecost a wonderful liturgical celebration, especially to Lee Runion and the Altar Guild.
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’
So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards 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.’
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 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. 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: 1-14).
“The Acts of the Apostles” should really be called “the Acts of the Holy Spirit.” It is only through the Holy Spirit that the Apostles are able to do what they do. We see in today’s passage that the Apostles still don’t get what Jesus’ kingship and kingdom are about. They ask Jesus: ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ They are still awaiting, to some extent, the glory days of Israel. They have witnessed Jesus’ public ministry, his death and resurrection, but it is not until the Holy Spirit comes that the Apostles finally get what Jesus is about. Some of the sanctifying gifts the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding and courage. We see this gifts unfold in the lives of the Apostles in the Book of Acts. I urge you to look for the unfolding of the Holy Spirit’s gifts in your life.
Let us pray: O God, on Pentecost you taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Thank you to everyone who made Pentecost a wonderful liturgical celebration, especially to Lee Runion and the Altar Guild.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Sunday, 19 June is Father’s Day. Don’t forget Dad! We will have a special breakfast by Idell and Alicia for all of the dads at St. Augustine on Father’s Day.
Let us pray for our fathers: Loving Father, we pray that our earthly fathers may imitate the manly courage of Abraham, Jesse and Joseph, and all the holy fathers of the past in providing wise counsel to the children you have given to their care. And may our spiritual fathers be guided by the examples of Saints Peter and Paul, all the Apostles and their saintly successors. Give them valiant faith in the face of confusion and conflict, hope in time of trouble and sorrow, and steadfast love for you, for their families, and for all your people throughout the world. Amen.
Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially Gladys, Pat, Cindi, Liz, Tom, all of the men and women of our armed forces serving at home and abroad, and all of those who are alone and shut in.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially Gladys, Pat, Cindi, Liz, Tom, all of the men and women of our armed forces serving at home and abroad, and all of those who are alone and shut in.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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