The Feast of the Ascension was celebrated yesterday and next weekend is Pentecost Sunday which will bring to a gentle close the season of Easter. But there is one potential problem with the Feast Day of the Ascension. It gives the impression that Jesus, like a rocket, took off to some far place, with no meaningful connection with any of us.

I prefer to think of the Ascension as Jesus now all around us, near us and with us. The notion of ‘ascending to heaven’ gives the wrong impression that he is gone and gone for good. We need to bring it back to more simpler and meaningful explanations.

So what does the Ascension mean for you and me? It means that the presence of Jesus is no longer limited to a small group in one place at a particular time. The Ascension means the presence of Jesus is now everywhere and all around us and especially in us.

The Ascension invites us to celebrate God’s beautiful presence in you and in everything good we do each day. It celebrates God’s presence in the very ordinary moments of our lives. God is not distant or far away.

The words Ascension may not be spoken about too much this weekend in conversation circles. But in our own quiet conversation with ourselves, the word ascension means you are not on your own, don’t give up, you are loved and God loves you.