The final chapter of the gospel of Luke describes Jesus’ ascension into heaven. As a meme I saw this week claims, Ascension marks the day Jesus began working from home.

Before he leaves, Jesus reminds the disciples: “You are witnesses of these things.” And now, Jesus says, it’s their turn. Their turn to help the world know that God loved this world – and each of us – so very much that God sent God’s son to embody love for us.

That’s a daunting thought, isn’t it? Most days, I would rather that God issue a back-to-the-office order, and bring Jesus back here to keep loving this world better than I ever could.

But in lieu of such a mandate, Jesus does not leave us without resources. As he says to his disciples, “You are witnesses of these things.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.” In other words, sit tight until I send the Holy Spirit. (That’s the subject of next week’s Pentecost celebration!)

But Jesus does something else before he disappears into the clouds: he blesses them.

Kate Bowler describes blessing in this way: “The act of blessing is the strange and vital work of noticing what is true about God and ourselves. And sometimes those truths are awful. Like, blessed are those who mourn. I mean, scripturally it’s true. Jesus said it. But does any of that feel true when our worlds are ripped to pieces? No. Or, blessed are the poor. Again, it doesn’t feel true at all. But in the act of blessing the world as it is and as it should be, we are starting to reassemble what we know. Maybe, God, you are here in the midst of this grief. Maybe, God, you can provide for this specific problem or be discoverable when I’m buttering this toast.” (The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days, by Kate Bowler and Jessice Richie, Introduction, p. xix)

How have you been blessed by God and others? How will you share that blessing – in words, actions, or tangible signs – with others?