Thoughts for the Day

So when they had come together, the disciples 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.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today we continue to celebrate the Ascension of Jesus, which started last Thursday (Ascension Day, 2026), as Jesus returns to the Father, before sending the Holy Spirit to be with His disciples. The funny little picture attached to this reading is a photograph of a piece of stonework or pottery showing Jesus' feet appearing below a cloud, and comes from an altar in a 13th century church in Austria. There are many such similar images in churches (often in stained glass), showing Jesus appearing in mid air with the disciples watching Him ascend into Heaven. In the early and medieval world heaven was seen as being up in the sky, and hell below the earth, so angels and God are seen above, and sinners are dragged off by devils down to hell.

Ascension is a major Festival in the church's calendar, and as a child I certainly remember having the Ascension Day off school, after we had been to church for our Ascension service!

The English language has many words and phrases to indicate the idea of heaven above and hell below. Words or phrases that use up often indicate something good, while down means the opposite. For example:

• Important people go up to the top table.
• On a plane we can be upgraded to a better seat.
• A person rising in their profession is seen as up-and-coming.
• Up-town is seen as better than down-town.
• Someone is down-and-out, when they are on the streets.
• Uplifted is a good feeling.
• A downfall can be bad.
• Being downcast is not good.

Have you thought about Heaven recently? In your thoughts is it "up there" and what might it be like? How does it matter to you?

Collect

O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us,
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.