Worship Notes: The Paschal Candle on Ascension Day

            The Paschal Candle is lit for all Divine Services during the forty days from Easter Sunday to Ascension Day.  It reminds us how the Risen Savior, the Light of the World, dwelled with his apostles for forty days following his resurrection. 

            As we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord (transferred from Thursday, May 29 to Sunday, June 1), we note Jesus’ departure from this world.  He has ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

            Jesus’ departure is symbolized by the departure of the Paschal Candle from the nave as the gospel lesson is read.  Although it is carried out of our sight, its light is not extinguished.  For, though Jesus is no longer visible to his Church, the Light of the word has not been extinguished.  He is with us whenever we gather in his name to give us blessing and salvation.

Worship Notes for Ascension Day

            The Paschal Candle is lit for all Divine Services during the forty days from Easter Sunday to Ascension Day.  It reminds us how the Risen Savior, the Light of the World, dwelled with his apostles for forty days following his resurrection. 

            On Sunday, May 12, we will celebrate the Ascension of our Lord, transferred from Thursday, May 9.  The readings will note Jesus’ visible departure from this world.  He has ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

            Jesus’ departure is symbolized by the departure of the Paschal Candle from the nave as the gospel lesson is read.  Although it is carried out of our sight, its light is not extinguished.  For, though Jesus is no longer visible to his Church, the Light of the word has not been extinguished.  He is with us whenever we gather in his name to receive his blessings and salvation through the word rightly preached and the sacrament rightly administered.

             The Paschal Candle will be lit for any baptisms and funerals conducted the remainder of the year, proclaiming that we are baptized and buried in Christ.

YouTube -- Ascension Day, transferred (May 29, 2022)

Here is the service from Sunday, May 29, a little bit late.  Due to an illness, the Rite of Confirmation for one of our catechumens was observed in this service.

Prayer for Ascension Day

PRAYER FOR THE FESTIVAL OF 

THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD

M: Blessed Jesus, you ascended to the right hand of your Father’s majesty, power, and glory and now reign as eternal King of kings and Lord of lords.
C: We praise you for your victory over sin, death, Satan, and hell.

M: O ascended Prophet, equip your Church to proclaim the precious gospel message of God’s love for all the world.
C: Give courage to our hearts, power to our words, and success to our efforts.

M: O ascended High Priest, represent us before the Father as his own dear children and heirs.  Defend us against Satan’s every accusation.  Ask for the Father’s rich blessings in our everyday lives.
C: Plead for his mercy and grace on our behalf.

M: O ascended King, direct the affairs of governments and nations that they may serve the best interest of your Church.
C: You are our Lord, Master, and King.

Special prayers and intercessions may follow.

M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.

Silent prayer.

M: As the disciples lifted their eyes to watch your ascension, so lift our eyes daily to look for your coming again in glory.
C: Lord Jesus, come quickly.  Amen.

Sermon -- Ascension, transferred (May 13, 2018)

LUKE 24:44-53

HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN

TO BE WITH US ON EARTH.

In the name + of Jesus.

M: Alleluia!  Christ is risen!
C: He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

     The Church has confessed it since it actually happened: “He ascended into heaven.”  Jesus appeared to the disciples for forty days after his resurrection and spoke about the kingdom of God.  Those appearances were often surprising, as Jesus suddenly showed up.  Then Jesus suddenly departed, no longer visible to his disciples.  But on the fortieth day after Easter, Jesus' departure was different.  He was visibly lifted up from the earth until he was hidden by a cloud.  Or, as the Apostles' Creed says, “He ascended into heaven.”
     People often speak about loved ones going to heaven, or that we ourselves expect to go to heaven.  As common as that expression is, I think it can be badly misunderstood.  I suspect that many people think heaven is where all dead people go, whether they were Christians or not.  Think about it yourself.  When you hear that someone has gone to heaven, what do you think is going on?  Is it that someone is floating on a cloud with a harp?  Is it just that they are pain-free?  Even Christians may have a pretty fuzzy idea about what it means that we go to heaven. 
     What's worse is that we are prone to accept the common belief that everyone goes to heaven.  It sounds too mean that anyone should go to hell.  It makes God seem mean and cruel.  We all confess that God is love and that he is a Savior.  It is easy to declare, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)  It is harder for us to quote just two verses later: “Whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God,” (John 3:18), that is, unbelievers go to hell.  People argue that sending someone to hell forever is not fair.  And since we want people to view God as fair, we shy away from saying God sends people to hell.
     If we fail to emphasize that God is holy, his word is not taken seriously.  People don't want to be alerted to their guilt; they want to be told there is no reason to feel guilty.  They don't want forgiveness; they want free-reign.  Since God does not negotiate with sinners, men hate God's word and rage against it.  If we try to proclaim God's word in a way that suits the taste of sinful men, then it is no longer God's word.  Repent.  God has given us his word to believe and to proclaim.  He does not need us to serve as his editor or to apologize for him.  The fact is that all people are sinners.  All deserve God's wrath.  All have earned the curse.  If we pray that God would be fair, it does not mean that we all go to heaven.  It means that all people go to hell.  For, no one is innocent.
     But God does not treat us as our sins deserve.  It is Jesus Christ who was treated as our sins deserve.  That is how God reveals his love to sinners.  Jesus reminded his disciples: “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:46-48)  It is what the Lord foretold.  It is what Jesus has fulfilled.  And it is what the apostles had witnessed.  It was true sufferings and death which turned away real divine wrath.  It was a real resurrection which brings true forgiveness of guilt.  Forgiveness of sins, new life, and salvation come only by faith in Jesus.  Apart from Jesus there is no forgiveness, no life, and no salvation.
     When Jesus had told the apostles that he would be leaving them, they were grieved.  More than anything, they wanted to be with Jesus.  They recognized that with Jesus is forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.  They did not want Jesus to leave them.  They wanted to be with Jesus.
     The Church longs for this even now.  The point of eternal life is not that will be in heaven.  It is that we will be with Jesus.  When you consider how heaven is depicted in St. John's Revelation, we do not hear about people floating on clouds, lounging on the beach, or playing golf.  John saw everything there focused on Jesus.  He is on the center of the throne, and all the people are with him, surrounding him.  That is why the Church meets together today: We want to be with Jesus.  We want to hear his word.  We want to be comforted by his promises and guided by his truth.  We want peace, joy, and comfort which cannot be shaken or lost.
     You might get the idea that being with Jesus is pretty much impossible.  “He ascended into heaven.”  But our confession continues: “He is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.”  The right hand of God is wherever God is at work, especially when God is working salvation.  So, if Jesus is at the right hand of God, Jesus is where God is and especially where he is working to save.  In other words, Jesus is with his Church which meets in his name to hear his word and receive his sacraments.  Jesus is here with us as we meet.  And Jesus is with you always, for you are always his.  There is no place you can go where his mercy, forgiveness, and promises are not upon you.  Jesus ascended to heaven so that he would be with you on earth.  Far from abandoning you, he is with you always.
     This is also why we are blessed whenever we partake in Holy Communion.  We are not reenacting a meal that Jesus had with his apostles.  Jesus, who fills all things, is also on our altars.  We do not feast on a dead Jesus or a pretend Jesus.  We feast on the living, exalted body and blood of Jesus.  The body and blood which conquered death are given to us for our own salvation.  No matter what Christian altar you are at, there is the right hand of God; there is Jesus there with his body and blood.  Wherever his word is rightly preached and the sacraments are rightly administered, there is Jesus with his people to save, to bless, to comfort, and to forgive.  Rather than have us go to one place on earth where we might get a glimpse of Jesus or a moment of his time, Jesus ascended into heaven so that he would be with us on earth whenever and wherever we may be.
     Since we are Christ's people, we will also follow the path which Jesus took.  He became flesh so that he could bear in his body the curse of our sins.  The body which was laid in a grave rose from the dead.  And the man, Jesus, ascended to dwell at God's right hand.  So also, even though we will go to the grave, we too will rise.  These bodies will be raised up holy and glorious.  In our flesh, we will be taken to the glories of heaven.  The point is not that we will float on clouds or play harps.  The point is that we will be with Jesus.  For, thanks to Jesus, man now has a dwelling place with God.  And, thanks to Jesus, we will dwell with the Lord forevermore—God with man, and man with God. 
     Our prayer is that no one would go to hell.  Thanks to Jesus, no one should have to.  He is not mean or cruel; he is the loving Savior.  Whoever believes and is baptized into him shall be saved.  Jesus has given us the task of letting this salvation be known.  “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations...” (Luke 24:46-47)  Those who receive this word will rejoice in it.  They will long to be with Jesus who loves sinners and saves them.  Those who despise this word may have plans to go to heaven.  But it is strange that they would desire to go to a place which centers on Jesus whom they reject and whose word they despise. 
     But not so for us.  We long to be with Jesus.  And Jesus longs to be with us.  Jesus ascended into heaven so that he would be with us on earth.  And so we continue to gather here in his name, because Jesus is here to bless us, to forgive us, and to save us.  We join in the heavenly meal where Jesus feeds us, strengthens us, and sustains us.  It is a moment where heaven touches earth.  It is a rehearsal for the worship that will come in the mansions of heaven.  For, the goal of the Christian faith is not to be in some nebulous place; it is to be with Jesus.  And Jesus' desire is to be with us.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

Ascension Day Services

Ascension Day is Thursday, May 10.  Since this festival always lands on a Thursday, the 40th day after Easter, it is often neglected.  However, this is the festival which recognizes Jesus ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of God, and enables him to fulfill his promise that he will be with us always, even to the end of the world.  While Good Shepherd will not be having a service on May 10 you can attend...

– St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church (17810 Farmington Road), Livonia – 6:30 PM service.

– St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church (1343 Penniman Ave), Plymouth – 7:00 PM service.


        NOTE:  While Good Shepherd will not observe Ascension Day on Thursday, we will be transferring the festival to Sunday, May 13.

Sermon -- Ascension, transferred (May 12, 2013)

LUKE 24:44-53

AND LIFTING UP HIS HANDS, JESUS BLESSED THEM.

In the name + of Jesus.

M:       Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

Cong:  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

     In the Temple, the priests daily made sacrifices for the people.  A priest would enter the Holy Place every morning and evening and serve before the altar of incense.  After the sacrifice was complete, the priest would leave the holy place.  He would stand on the steps of the temple, extend his hands, and bestow the Lord’s blessing upon the Lord’s people.  You would be familiar with this blessing.  The priest declared, “The LORD bless you and keep you.  The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.  The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)  And with that blessing came God’s promise: “So shall (the priests) put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.” (Numbers 6:27)

     Our Lord Jesus Christ had also completed his work of sacrificing.  His sacrifice, of course, was himself.  The Lamb of God had been slain for the sins of the world.  “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!” sing the hosts of heaven.  Emphasis on “was.”  He is no longer slain.  As foretold, Jesus completed all that had been written about him in Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.  (Jesus) said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations.” (Luke 24:46-47)  Jesus fulfilled all that was written about him in the Scriptures. 

     Christ is risen.  His sacrifice is complete and perfect.  He has taken away your sin.  He has conquered death and vanquished hell.  He has rendered the devil powerless.  Jesus Christ lives and reigns forever.  And so, when he raises his hands and bestows his blessings, he does not merely wish blessings upon you.  He actually bestows what he has won for you.  As he has done for Mansour this morning, so also for you who have been baptized, Jesus has put his name on you.  You are his; and his blessings—ALL his blessings—are yours!

     Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.  While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:50-51)  Lifting up his hands, Jesus blessed them.  He had completed his saving works, and so he ascended into heaven.  While you might get the idea that Jesus’ ascension into heaven means that he is kicking back in heaven and has nothing to do with you anymore, that is not true.  “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.” (Apostles’ Creed)  That means Jesus lives and reigns and continues to bestow his blessings upon you.

     One of the reasons that Jesus’ ascension probably does not receive as much attention as it should is because we forget who Jesus is.  You hear that Jesus has ascended to the throne of God and rules over all things, and it is generally met with a yawn.  God reigns over all things.  Not really a surprise, is it?  But Jesus Christ is also true man.  He was born in the flesh.  He lived and died in the flesh.  When Jesus rose from the grave, he did not shed his humanity.  The man, Jesus Christ, ascended into heaven.  Your flesh and blood brother has all authority over all things.  God the Father seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:20-21)  If Jesus Christ reigns, then the one who rules over the universe is man.

     If you find it hard to believe that man rules heaven and earth, it is because you are familiar with the hearts and minds of men.  You have seen man’s wickedness by observing how awful people are when they speak to one another or about one another, in the shameful way people use one another, in the jealous way we look at one another, and in the callous way we think of one another.  That wickedness rears its ugly, vicious head especially when men receive power and authority.  Men use power to crush enemies and destroy rivals.  You yourself get frustrated because you do not have the power or authority to get what you want—whether better behaved children, better pay, or a better parking space.  So if a man has been given all authority in heaven and earth, you tremble at the thought of how it will be used.  And it is probably because you know how you would use it.

     If you think evil of other people, it is because the same evil dwells within your own heart.  You know what it is to be petty and bitter.  You smugly look down on others, and then you are offended when others snub you.  You know just how wicked people can be, because you have seen it in yourself.  Your guilt bears witness against you.  Jesus reigns with an iron scepter, and you should be crushed by it.  Repent!

     But Jesus does not lift up his hands to wage war.  Lifting up his hands, he blesses you.  Jesus took on your human nature in order to bind himself to you.  For, the Lord does not despise mankind whom he has created.  Therefore, he became man to redeem it.  Jesus lived a holy life as man in order to fulfill the Commandments.  Though he had no sin of his own, he bound himself to your sin.  He bore your sin and guilt.  He lifted up his hands in blessing at the cross to pay for them there.  His gruesome death is for your highest good, for the forgiveness of your sins.

     On the third day, Jesus was raised from the grave.  He did not shed his humanity in his resurrection.  The flesh and blood he became he has redeemed.  In flesh and blood, he rose from the grave to show you that you, too, shall rise from the grave in your body.  Having set you free from sin and death, Jesus will raise you up glorious and incorruptible.  Lifting up his hands, he blesses you with this victory.

     Forty days after Jesus rose from the dust of the earth, Jesus ascended into the glories of heaven.  The flesh and blood, gloriously risen Savior entered the very presence of God.  Again, Jesus did this for you.  He shall exalt you to be what God had always created you to be—holy children of God who will dwell in the presence of the Lord forever.  The man, Jesus Christ, has paved the way.  If this man stands in the presence of holy God, you can be sure that you who are mankind shall dwell there, too.  For through baptism, you have been washed in his blood.  You have been marked in his name.  He lifts up his hands and bestows his blessings of forgiveness and salvation upon you.  Jesus Christ has exalted you to the status of children of the Most High God.  And he will exalt you even more to the eternal dwellings of heaven.

     Until that day, you still bear your status as God’s redeemed.  Christ has put his name on you to bless you and so that you will be little christs before the world.  Your whole life bears witnesses that Jesus is at work in you.  You are confessors of Jesus’ salvation.  You are evidence of God’s mercy.  You bear the name of Jesus Christ, and you bear the glad tidings of eternal life.  You get to speak of repentance and forgiveness because these have been given to you.  You get to reflect the light of Christ to show love to others, with the gracious words you get to speak to others, and in the prayers you offer up to others. 

     …And lifting up his hands he blessed them.  While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:50-51)  Though Jesus has ascended to heaven, he has not abandoned you.  He lives and reigns at the right hand of God.  In other words, where God is at work to save, there Jesus is at work to bless.  Though his word, through the sacraments, and through his ministers, Jesus is at work.  There, he puts his name on you.  There, he lifts up his hands.  There, he blesses you.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.