Using modern day scientific discovery our Focus Text seems like fantasy, Jesus ascending into the stratosphere like some kind of weather balloon. For the Gospel Writer, it wasn’t about the physics, what was more important is what the Ascension meant for people of faith. The Ascension is not about escaping the world, but rather a reminder that Christ’s work that began in Jerusalem now continues throughout the world. And we are here to embody the kingdom Jesus proclaimed as we create spaces of welcome, friendship, compassion, and community with AGAPe Love.

In our Focus Text Jesus sends out his followers to bring a message to those they meet: “The Kingdom of God has come near!” He also tells instructs them on how to handle those who do not greet the meeting in peace. Don’t argue, or threaten, or harm them in order to convince them to welcome you and the message. Just move on and keep proclaiming the message. Their rejecting the meeting does not diminish the light of your presence or your peace or the power of the message.

Our culture tends to obsess over ‘proving our worth.’ Find success, your worth is proven. Make a notable contribution to society, you’ve proved your worth. Carrying on the family legacy, proof of worth. In our Focus Text this week, Jesus, as usual, is counter-cultural, your worth to God is not proven through what you’ve accomplished it is inherent in your identity as a child of God. The children and babies approaching Jesus have done nothing but seek out Jesus and God’s love and Jesus says “the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

As part of the human experience we can recognize the “lasts” of life. Sometimes we recognize it as a last in the moment, especially when it’s a Milestone marked like your last ‘fill-in-the-blank’ (Prom, Gymnastics Meet, Science Class) of High School. Sometimes we don’t realize that it was our last until it doesn’t happen again, like a last conversation with a loved one or the last clean bill of health before a cancer diagnosis. In our Focus Text this week, Jesus is preparing the disciples for the lasts that are coming up on what would be his last night with them before his death and resurrection. Jesus doesn’t tell them everything will be fine (because it won’t) but he encourages them to do the ‘next’ thing even in the midst of their grief. He also reassures them they will not be alone as they take that next step, the Holy Spirit will be with them for each new step they make in love.

It's unbelievable, until it's not! Jesus appearing in a locked room. God's AGAPe love for us when we don't deserve it (Grace). When we try to contain our beliefs in a box God surprises us by always making space for love among our doubts and fears.

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday marking Jesus entry into Jerusalem as the crowds celebrated his arrival with shouts of joy. The Pharisees wanted the crowds silenced, but Jesus told the Pharisees, the crowd, and us, that Good News of God’s AGAPe Love will not be silenced, even the rocks will proclaim God’s love for the world!

Is it broken? Sometimes we are all too quick to deem something (or someone) broken when the outcome isn’t what we expected. In many cases it isn’t broken, it is user error because our expectations are what is broken. In our Focus Text, Simon the Pharisee is certain Jesus is ‘broken’ because he does not turn away the woman who is a known sinner. But Jesus shows how Simon’s idea of a working faith, that keeps others at a distance and judges them, is actually separating him from God. A faith that is really working as designed is the woman who draws close to Jesus in gratitude for being seen and loved. When we recognize we are seen and loved in the same way, our working-as-intended-faith shows AGAPe love to all our neighbors!

Asking for help can be hard! In our Focus Text the Gerasene Man possessed by too many demons to name needed help, but couldn’t ask for it. Encountering Jesus and recognizing his power, the demon legion asked to be sent away instead of being in the presence of God. The Man returned to his senses and Jesus sent him back into the city to tell everyone what God had done without being able to ask. God is always ready to help us and also sends us out into the world to bring light to those in need of help even if they can't ask for it!