We live in a time which is after the Ascension, after Pentecost so it is not easy for us to put ourselves into the mindset of the apostles. For them it is 6 weeks since Jesus died, they are still coping with the shock and bereavement and the sudden discovery that Jesus is alive again. They must have been in a great state of confusion. When he appears he doesn’t stay for long. Their world is a world of looking back, trying to remember what Jesus had taught them in his 3 years of ministry, trying to piece together what his death and resurrection meant.

The Ascension is the moment when they are called to stop looking back and begin to look forward - “you will receive power” (Acts 1 v8): “you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1 v8).

The next step is to await the gift of the Holy Spirit which we will celebrate at the Feast of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is going to equip them to take Jesus’ message to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Jerusalem well that is where they were so that’s ok; Judea that is a bit bigger, it could take some time to visit all the towns let alone the villages! Samaria that is going to be much more difficult because Jews and Samaritans aren’t on speaking terms. Hang on a minute what do you mean ‘to the ends of the earth!’ That means going everywhere the Roman Army has conquered and probably a lot more. Travelling by foot or by sea is going to be dangerous, it means leaving my family behind, how can I support a family and do what Jesus asks?

The challenge that those early disciples faced was enormous and yet they stuck to it. Down through the ages the Church has been challenged to keep looking forward with the help of the Holy Spirit. And now the challenge is

handed to us to continue to spread the message of Jesus to Sheringham,

Norfolk, the United Kingdom and to the ends of the earth. Remember the Holy Spirit will be with you always!

God bless you. Andrew SSL