“In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 1: 1-5)
Now that Easter Sunday and Bright Week have passed, we tend to go back to “business as usual,” as if we’ve reached a sort of spiritual mountaintop, with nowhere left to go but down. But in the beginning of the Book of Acts, which is read in our churches throughout the period from Pascha to Pentecost, St. Luke reminds me of the Lord’s commandment to us at this time, “not to depart” from Jerusalem, “but to wait” for the Promised One, the Holy Spirit.
So the story isn’t over; His work for us is not finished. Let me “not depart” from my pre-Paschal focus, as yet a new horizon opens up before me, the promise of the Father… I take a bit of time today to stay close to His Word, Who is “speaking of the kingdom of God” in new ways now, these forty days, preparing me for a new baptism and new Breath, according to His confounding, carefully-prepared plan.
Christ is risen, dear friends! Please tune in to our daily, weekday “Morning Coffee” audio-podcasts, for some daily inspiration on our journey from Pascha to Pentecost! Join our ca. 500 faith-inspired subscribers at: patreon.com/sistervassa. Love from Vienna, and please wash your hands & take heart, Sister Vassa
