Humanity taken into Divinity

Thursday, May 17, 2007 -- Week of 6 Easter
Ascension Day

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117
An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 962)
Psalms 8, 47 (morning) 24, 96 (evening)
Ezekiel 1:1-14, 24-28b
Hebrews 2:5-18
Matthew 28:16-20

Our reading in Hebrews includes an interpretation of Psalm 8, which is also appointed as a morning psalm for Ascension Day. We are invited to expand our vision.

We see the limitations and sufferings of mortals. "What are human beings that you are mindful of them...?" We know that life can be oppressive and chaotic. Yet God has promised to us that all things shall be subjected under our feet. That is not our experience. We do not yet see that. "But we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone."

Hebrews reminds us that this exalted Jesus is the pioneer of our salvation because he has been made perfect through suffering. And this glorified Suffering-One calls us brothers and sisters.

In Jesus, the Divine shows to us that God is one with us -- "he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect." In Jesus, the Divine experiences fully the limitations, sufferings, oppressions and chaos of mortal life, even unto death. In Jesus, God raises all of that, including all of humanity, into the Divine life. So we are raised into the very life of God. Because we are one with the human Jesus, we are also one with the divine. God has taken on our humanity and raised us into eternity. Indeed, all things are subjected under our feet, because we dwell here within creation but we also dwell within the divine life.

The spatial imagery speaks of Jesus descending into our humanity -- God's life completely poured out into human life. Then Jesus ascends into Divinity -- human life completely glorified into God's life.

That is our condition. It is our state of being here and now. We are simultaneously living within the limitations of humanity as we are completely enveloped into the life of God.

Jesus' parting words in Matthew's Gospel -- "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Lowell
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The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

See our Web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

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We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.