So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
—Mark 16:15-20
The Son of God, who for our healing fell,
once lifted up, islifted up again,
who sank and rose up from the depths of hell;
the one who came from heav'n to heav'n ascends.
But all the world is different in his wake:
The light from light that could not be put out
shines brighter now in every candle flame;
our hearts still burn with fire no tears can douse.
For death has been undone, and night is bright,
and little loaves a hungry world can fill.
Though heav'n on earth is hidden from our sight,
yet heav'n is here, for he is with us still.
Now we descend, who watched him going up;
now we can take the downward running road
and eat the bread and drink the selfsame cup
and die and rise and follow still our Lord.
Ascension of Christ and Noli me tangere, c. 400, ivory, Milan or Rome, now in Munich. Photo: Andreas Praefcke – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3576630
Kate Bluett 