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44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

 

Today’s reading is the conclusion of Luke’s gospel. In my Bible, the side note for this passage points out that Luke’s gospel both begins and ends with people praying in the temple. Zechariah is serving in his role as priest in the temple when he is visited by the angel Gabriel and told of the upcoming birth of his son. This child, John, would “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). At the end of this same gospel, the followers of Christ have been witnesses to the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. In response, they return to the temple to bless God for all they had seen and heard.

 

While I am at the church for almost every service, I find that I do not spend that much time actually “in” church. Working in the church, it easily becomes difficult to truly immerse oneself in worship with my focus split in four different directions. I used to think that it was weird that some Catholic churches have mass daily. Why would people want to go to church that often? But I think I get it more and more. Worship time helps us focus on God and to set about time for prayer and listening to God’s Word for our lives. It renews our soul with prayers uplifted together and in song. I find that taking time in my week for prayer in an empty sanctuary draws me closer to God. I get it why the temple was so central to the lives of the Israelites. While we can encounter and engage with God anywhere, these holy places are able to draw us more readily into relationship with God. I encourage us all to find more time to dwell in sacred spaces so that we too may connect with God,

 

Heavenly Father, fill our lives with your presence. Help us to set aside space in our lives to be one with you. Amen.

 

Chad Ryberg Cryberg@livinglord.org

 

Prayer Concern: Teachers and students.