Sixth Sunday of Eastertide: Going Away / Coming Down
The celebration continues with the Great Fifty Days called Eastertide. I hope you’re enjoying the Practice Resurrection series each week. Hallelujah! Christ is risen!
Look: Sky Ladder (2015), Cai Guo Qiang
Artist’s statement: “‘This is where I want to make a ladder to connect the Earth to the universe,’ said Cai in 1994, ahead of his first, unsuccessful attempt to realize the project. Bad weather kept him from attempting the piece. He was similarly stymied in Shanghai in 2001, due to post-9/11 security concerns, and in Los Angeles in 2012, when the permit was revoked due to the risk of forest fires.
It took 21 years, but Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang has finally brought to life his dramatic Sky Ladder, an explosive artwork in which a flaming ladder seems to miraculously float above the earth.
One of several artist known for exploring fireworks as an art medium, Cai was also responsible for the pyrotechnic display that marked the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The artist actually built the fiery ladder to the heavens back in June, but only uploaded the video of the stunning work to YouTube this week, where it quickly caught fire online. Now a viral sensation, the artwork was a gift to Cai’s grandmother, who just turned a venerable 100 years old, and to the rest of his family and hometown of Quanzhou, China.”
Listen to my entire playlist on Spotify: Resurrection 2019. Add it to your account by clicking ‘Follow.’
“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, “
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”These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.”
Monday (5/27) - Psalm 80; Deuteronomy 8:1-10; James 1:1-15; Luke 9:18-27
Tuesday (5/28) - Psalm 78; Deuteronomy 8:11-20; James 1:16-27; Luke 11:1-13
Wednesday (5/29) - Psalm 119:97-120;Baruch 3:24-37; James 5:13-18; Luke 12:22-31
Thursday (5/30) / Ascension Day - Psalm 8, 47; Ezekiel 1:1-14,24-28b; Hebrews 2:5-18; Matthew 28:16-20
Friday (5/31) - Psalm 85, 86; Ezekiel 1:28-3:3; Hebrews 4:14-5:6; Luke 9:28-36
Saturday (6/1) - Psalm 87, 90; Ezekiel 3:4-17; Hebrews 5:7-14; Luke 9:37-50
Sunday Scripture readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary (Year C). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the Book of Common Prayer (Year 1), using the Psalm selections for Morning Prayer. This week’s readings include the Baruch from the Apocrypha so I’ve linked to the RSV. Here’s a helpful commentary If you’re wondering if Anglicans (or other Protestants) read the Apocrypha.
Pray:
“O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
Do:
In previous years, we've celebrated the Great 50 Days between Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday (aka, Eastertide) with a series I've dubbed Practice Resurrection (after the Wendell Berry poem). It's one of my favorite series all year, and I'm excited to start again. I need your photos and captions to make it work. To help prime the pump, I thought you might enjoy the list of ideas I brainstormed for simple ways to practice resurrection.
Choose 1 idea or 50, but whatever you do, do it with gusto!
Here's how you can share your photo stories with me for the blog:
1. Add something to your day that helps you practice resurrection (one day or fifty days -doesn't matter).
2. Take a picture and write a description in 1-50 words.
3. Share it with me via email, share on my Facebook page, or tag me on Instagram (you can tag me with @a_sacramental_life or use the #PracticeResurrection2019 hashtag.)
I look forward to hearing from you!
(See all Eastertide posts from 2018 here.)