From Gaze to Guidance

Occasion: The Ascension of the Lord

Scripture Reading

Acts 1:9-11
(From the PCUSA Daily Lectionary)

"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 toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 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.'"

Reflection: From Gaze to Guidance

Many have experienced a moment where a mentor, parent, or trusted leader hands over the keys, offers a final piece of advice, and then, it's up to us. In that sudden silence, the weight of responsibility settles in, often accompanied by the thought: “Wait, are you sure I’m ready for this?”

This is the central energy of the Ascension. For forty days following Easter, the disciples lived in the comfort of the resurrected Christ’s physical presence. Just as they began to find their footing, He was taken from their sight. Their reaction—standing still and "gazing up toward heaven"—is deeply human. It is the paralysis of transition, the hope that if they look long enough, the familiar comfort might return.

However, the messengers who appear do not permit them to remain in that paralysis. The question, “Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?” serves as a gentle but firm redirection. The Ascension is not an act of abandonment; it is a graduation. It marks the moment where the work shifts from the teacher to the students.

In a world defined by relentless news cycles and rapid cultural shifts, it is tempting to keep our eyes fixed on the sky, waiting for a divine "escape hatch" to solve the complexities of modern life. But the message of the Ascension is that Christ departs so the Spirit can empower his followers. We are trusted to be the hands, feet, and heart of God here on Earth, bringing peace to an anxious workplace, patience to a frustrated household, and justice to a fractured community. The mission is now in our hands...

Art Focus: Giotto’s The Ascension (1304–1306)

In this fresco, Giotto di Bondone captures the tension between the celestial and the terrestrial. Christ is depicted actively rising, his hands raised in a final blessing as he moves beyond the frame.

While Christ is the subject, the emotional core of the piece lies with the figures below. Mary and the disciples are shown with authentic human reactions—some shade their eyes against the light, while others appear bewildered or mourning. They are everyday people caught in a terrifying transition. The angels in the painting serve a dual purpose: they point toward the ascending Christ while simultaneously gesturing back down toward the earth, mirroring the scriptural call to redirect our focus to the work at hand.

Prayer

Lord, when we feel overwhelmed by the demands of our lives or the state of the world, we confess that we often prefer to look away or wait for an escape. Thank you for trusting us with your mission. Send your Spirit to redirect our gaze back to the people around us who need your love today. Enable us to move from standing still to moving forward in faith. Amen.