What a privilege we have of living in this age where many of the things that remained mysterious and difficult to understand have been mulled over, contemplated, and revealed to the Church over the past two millennia. Imagine being the earliest disciples of Jesus, living through the horror of the crucifixion, and then Jesus is somehow back walking, talking, and eating. This had to have been both wonderful and shocking.

Then you realize, this is GREAT. He has come back from the dead, and now we have him with us. 40 days go by, however, and you find yourself with another time of confusion and waiting.

Jesus, “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

What were the disciples supposed to do in between Jesus ascending to the Father and the coming of the Holy Spirit? They continued doing what they knew to do, obey the scriptures by electing the replacement for the betrayer Judas, and being gathered together, to pray. We often find ourselves in life not knowing what the next steps are. We know where we will eventually end up (for the disciples they knew to expect the Holy Spirit) and where we are, but how do we handle the in between when we haven’t the foggiest idea of the path in front of us? We keep on doing what we have been tasked to do thus far, and we pray the prayer of faith.

Thursday is the day of the ascension, 40 days after the resurrection, and 10 days before  Pentecost. This is the time of patient waiting and expectation. May we join our hearts in praying this ancient hymn, Veni, Creator Spiritus (See the video below to hear it sung!):

Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
and lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.

Thy blessed unction from above
is comfort, life, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light
the dullness of our blinded sight.

Anoint and cheer our soiled face
with the abundance of thy grace.
Keep far from foes, give peace at home:
where thou art guide, no ill can come.

Teach us to know the Father, Son,
and thee, of both, to be but One,
that through the ages all along,
this may be our endless song:

Praise to thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.