Eastertide

May 15, 2023

Scripture Reading: Acts 1:6-14

So when they had come together, they 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.’ –Acts 1:6-11

Christ does not want us to sit around and wait for his return. He expects, with the help of the Holy Spirit, for us to continue his work building the Kingdom of God here on earth right now and into the future. Part of that job is telling the story of Jesus and his love to the whole world as much by our actions as our words. Another part is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide water for the thirsty, care for the sick, welcome the stranger, and restore the prisoner. (See Matthew 25). A large part of meeting these needs requires us to heed the prophet Micah’s advice.

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
   and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
   and to walk humbly with your God? –Micah 6:8
Prayer: Empower us, Lord,  to do your calling.Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.