The Humbling of Humanity

Covid-19 has caused an extraordinary change of behaviour in just a few months throughout the whole world – even the rich and the powerful. We once thought we could do anything and that our destiny was in our hands, now we are dazed and deeply uncomfortable with the uncertainty that Covid-19 has imposed on our way of life. We thought we were in charge; now we don’t know who is in charge. We have been humbled, profoundly humbled.

But it is Ascension Day – through the year we celebrate the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus and today his ascension to the right hand of God, where he reigns sovereignly. God has placed all things under his feet - everything - “all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.”

Who is in charge? Jesus, the Lord reigns.

It is the common experience of many churches that more people are asking First Order questions – ‘Why am I here?’, ‘Who am I?’, ‘Who is in charge?’ etc. We should not be surprised when our delusions are stripped away, that we start seeking answers to the deep questions of life. And on Ascension Day, we can affirm to ourselves and proclaim to the cosmos with delight and reassurance – ‘Jesus, the Lord reigns!’. Let us pray that as the Church throughout the world celebrates Ascension Day, people will hear the Good News that the Lord reigns - our Cathedral will be broadcasting their service at 7pm tonight. I will be reminding myself of this beautiful truth many times over the coming days and using the Thy Kingdom Come prayer app praying that I may be able to answer someone’s question ‘Who is in charge?’.

Peter Harwood