Today is the Festival of the Ascension of Our Lord, Ascension Day, or the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. APBA has the following for the gospel reading for Year B:

And [Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.

Mark 16:15-20

Theologically the Ascension is difficult. Does Jesus lay aside His humanity at the Ascension or does He take it to the right hand of the Father with Him? I have no answers. But I, for one, think Jesus is still active and present in some form today. And He still works “for me” today.

The Ascension is the first occasion I remember preaching. I think it was for a small devotional group. I remember telling a story – a story which, alas, overpowered. People remembered the story but not the point I was making. So much so that I cannot recall the point but I remember telling the story.

So Blessed Ascension Day to you!!! May you have a Jesus filled day!!!