Today is Ascension Day – the 40^th day after the Resurrection of our Lord, and the day when Jesus ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand side of God to rule in might and majesty.

The 40 days between the resurrection and the ascension are reminiscent of Jesus’ 40 days in the desert, when he prepared himself to put on the mantle of leadership and begin his public ministry after his baptism.

For the disciples, these 40 days with Jesus post-resurrection are a time of instruction to help prepare them as they transition from followers of Jesus to leaders in Jesus’ kingdom.

As Jesus leaves them in his bodily form, he promises not to leave them orphaned but to send to them the Spirit, as was promised. Through this they will receive power and might.  It is not power and might as they world may know it, but rather an inner courage and conviction, to preach the gospel to those who need to hear it.  By these words Jesus is entrusting his mission and ministry to his disciples.

As modern-day disciples of Jesus we too have been gifted by God’s Holy Spirit and have been promised the same power.  And we too have been asked to be leaders in God’s kingdom, sharing and spreading the good news to those we know.

Over the next 10 days we, like Jesus’ disciples, are invited to enter into a time of prayer together, praying for the gifting of the holy spirit to come to the world, into our lives and into the lives of those we know.

Even more specifically, the church today asks us in these 10 days between Ascension and the day of Pentecost to pray for five people that you know to come to know the power of God in their lives.

I encourage you all to look up the resources from Thy Kingdom Come to pray for 5 people you know to come to know and be in relationship with Jesus.

To assist you in your prayer, there are many resources available, including a wonderful Novena with reflections from the Archbishop of Canterbury and a lovely prayer journal to assist you.  You can also find a helpful reflection, ideas and inspiration at the back of the church on Sunday to take home with you.
However you choose to celebrate this time, remember the promise of Jesus, and his faith in you to continue his work on earth.

Prayer: 
O Lord,
in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son our God,
give us that love which can never cease,
that will kindle our lamps but not extinguish them,
that they may burn in us and enlighten others. Amen.’
-6th century Celtic prayer