Jesus said to his disciples, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you-- that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and,
lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he
withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped
him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually
in the temple blessing God. Luke 24:44-53
Carried Up
I have been a witness to the awesome power
the living God walking among us all
touching the broken and healing each
feeding the throngs on the hillsides
stilling the raging waters and fierce wind
keeping us all from human despair.
I am standing in Bethany looking up
watching as you disappear from my sight
gathering the blessings you have left behind
like a child gathering daisies in the field
a fisherman gathering up the nets for tomorrow
like a worried mother tucking in her children.
I am wondering what is next for me and them
we have witnessed so much wondrous and painful
we have known the world's cruelty first hand
known the tender sweetness of forgivenness
standing looking up and waiting to be clothed.
I might not be able to carry the garments sent
I worry that my humanity is too fragile for love
I wonder whether any more miracles will happen
as you are taken away again I fear my rising anxiety
knowing that I am able to deny your love
knowing I am fully capable of falling short.
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