The Ascension of Jesus Christ into the heavens is a vital part of the Gospel, the Good News. It tells us so much about Christ and about God’s unshakeable commitment to being with us and being for us.

The Ascension is Good News because it shows that our human identity has been taken into God’s presence: Christ goes ahead of us; he is not abandoning us, but is praying to God for us.

The Ascension is the Christmas message of “God with us” enhanced with the added value of: Christ shows us the way to God. The fusing of thesetwo messages confirm God’s unbreakable commitment to each one of us, and gives us the confidence to live each day with God.

The Ascension tells us that Christ has gone before us, and as we follow in his footsteps we too enter into God’s presence.

The Ascension allows us to see that faith in the risen Christ, lived in Love for the people around us, and holding the Hope we have in God’s promise, provides us with a different way of coping with whatever life is throwing at us.

This different way of living is the greatest witness to the people you know. They sometimes wonder what you are on, and even wonder how they could get some of it for themselves.

So, don’t be shy. Continue to live your faith openly, unashamedly, and confidently knowing that Christ goes before us into God’s presence, prays for us, and opens the way for at least one of our feet to be anchored firmly in the Kingdom of God.

The Revd Malcolm France