The Christian faith presents
Strange images to our
Modern world.

A virgin birth begins
This series of very 'odd'
Happenings.

The resurrection holds
More problems to accept
In belief.

And the Ascension?
A figment of stressed
Imagining?

But, just suppose that God
Who created the world
Is active here.

How else should a loving
Lord present himself to
Those he loves?

These ancient images were meant to conjure in the mind a glimpse of the 'Glory of God'. In the midst of our image rich society they still evoke something of wonder.
We must guard against becoming blasé through frequent exposure to rich imagery. The glory that is heaven is really quite beyond our imagining. Similarly we must watch, most keenly, for any tendency to treat these poetic images with any level of literal interpretation.
In the Ascension we have a glimpse , no more, of what God's love for us holds in store.

Awe and wonder at the
Power and Grace of God.

Praise and rejoicing for
The Love of God to us.

Fanfares of triumph for
The ascended Lord God.

Endless endeavour to
Make god's rule real on earth.

Our generation is confused
For we no longer have any
Fixed standards in which to place our basis for living.

Our generation is obsessed
With greed and gratification
Of all the selfish impulses;
No basis for life.

Our generation has found out
Almost all the secrets of god's
Creative genius for all
That is there for life.

Our generation stands in need
Of a firm foundation on which
To build a working method for
Our life here on earth.

Our generation should sing with
The past generations the praise
Of the Lord god the King most high
From whom all life comes.

Our "inward eyes" have been
Enlightened with wonders
As no generation
Before have experienced.

In addition to our
Hope in Christ has been added
The secrets of God's work
In his creation of

This universe for us
Has opened the vast
Resources that he makes
Available to all.

All this comes from the faith
We hold of God-in-Christ
For this has released the
Human spirit to grow.

They needed, then, a final sign
That showed them where their Lord had gone
They needed, too, more open minds
That they might know the Gospel truths.

We, too, like them need open minds
That we might learn the Gospel truth;
Our lord is here and everywhere
His spirit makes our witness strong.

This gives us strength to praise him well.
This helps us speak the word of faith.
The presence of our Living Lord
Strengthens our life of faith in him.