Psalm 47 or Psalm 93

Year B - Ascension or Our Turn to Witness

May 14, 2015

Psalm 47 or Psalm 93

These Psalms make it sound as if lifting up is noisy. Here shouts and trumpets and thundering waves give rhythm to praise music. They beat out a pulse for the rest of the praise. Elijah had his whirlwind so Jesus must have something even grander.

But we do need to be a bit careful. What is praise being given for if not for pride and privilege of place. Others are subdued and placed under our control. Our heritage is better than any other. Holiness rules and regulations are set.

Each instance is turned around by Jesus, so why would we think some ascension follows a pattern that must be noisy. Moses went so silently no one knows where he is buried. The grave Jesus was in is doubly silent—both a grave and empty.

For now understand that Ascension is as quiet as Pentecost will be noisy. This is time to reflect and be library quiet that we might plumb the depths of what in the world a resurrection leading to a leaving is about and where that leaves us.

Where the old spiritual Steal Away to Jesus sings about thundering trumpet sounds and a trumpet as sharp as lightning, someone might rewrite it for a Ascension song. Here’s a seed to start such a rewrite:

     Refrain:

          Steal away, steal away, steal away O Jesus!

          Steal away, steal away home,

          We got awhile to stay here.