If you’re hoping to hear how messed up and broken you are on Sunday, feel free to stay home. You can do a perfectly fine job remembering that on your own. If you’re open to hearing about a God who loves you and is for you, please join us! Come to hear from Him, come to taste of Him, come to be blessed by Him.

Indeed, it’s His blessing that we’ll consider on Sunday as we read the gripping account of Jesus’ ascension in St. Luke’s Gospel. The very last thing Jesus does during His earthly ministry is lift His hands, and bless His disciples. The final word Jesus speaks over His friends is a benediction.

As they are sent into the world, like lambs among wolves, to suffer any number of abuses, I wonder if the disciples ever questioned, “Is Jesus really for me?” In the limited suffering I’ve endured, I know I’ve asked that question. It’s easy to feel forgotten and alone when experiencing grief and pain.

In those moments, I often picture St. Thomas, full of doubt, recollecting Jesus’ final blessing: His posture toward them and His tone of voice. “Remember,” St. Thomas might have said to himself, “Jesus is your friend. He loves you. He is, even now, speaking a blessing over you.”

How do you picture the ascended, ruling Jesus? Is His jaw clenched? Is his brow furrowed at the mess you’ve made? Surely St. John had this final benediction in mind when he told his spiritual children that if they sin, they should remember they have an advocate with the Father in Jesus. You see, Jesus’ fists aren’t clenched; they’re raised high and open in a posture of blessing.

Ascension Day is an opportunity to remind ourselves not only of Jesus’ rule over the world, but also of His heart toward us. Jesus loves you. His life was for you. His death was for you. His resurrection was for you. And in His present, ascended state, He remains for you.