The following exchange about value was inspired by the report found in the lectionary reading of the Acts 1:6 – 14
Two in white, “Galileans, why do you stand gazing up toward heaven?“
Galileans, “You don’t get it, do you? Where else should we be looking? Just moments ago we were asking Jesus if, since he had just conquered death, did he know when it would be time to bring in a free Israel, a new Jerusalem, a new Tesla, a new job, and the peace we are all waiting for? He gave us this strange answer, and then, ‘poof’ he was levitated into the clouds. Where else should we be gazing? He was just here, and now he’s gone…into heaven!”
Two in white, “I don’t know about levitated, but he certainly was lifted up…What did he say? What was the strange answer?”
Galileans, “He said no.”
Two in white, “That’s it? No? That’s all he said?”
Galileans, “He said no, he did not have authority over any of that. He said only the Father knew those times. But, how can that be right? Don’t you think that’s strange? Especially now. After this…being lifted up? What was he doing? Was he flying?”
Two in white, “He was lifted up. But it gets stranger. This Jesus, the one that you saw lifted up…the one that said no …he will return in the same way.”
Galileans, “You mean the Jesus that turned his face to Jerusalem and was lifted up before all the people, the Jews, and the Romans. That Jesus?”
Two in white, “That Jesus. The same Jesus in the same way. So take your heads out of the clouds. Open your eyes, look around you. Did he say anything about where to look?”
Galileans, “Actually, he told us to look out for him in Jerusalem, Judea and to the ends of the earth.”
Two in white, “he said earth? Not heaven?”
Galileans, “Yes, earth”
Two in white, “So he said ‘no’ – he has no authority in heaven. His authority is only on earth, and he gave that to you.”
Galileans, “Authority?”
Two in white, “When he said to look out for him, what did he call you?”
Galileans, “He called us ‘witnesses’.”
Two in white, “That’s it. You are witnesses. He gave you court level status, on earth. That is all he had and he has given it to you.”
They looked at each other, stunned. There is a long silence. The sun is cresting the horizon. There is a brief flash as it dips below the arc of the world.
Galileans, “on earth?”
Two in white, “In the same way. He will return in the same way. You will not see him in the clouds. He’s not a heavenly kind of guy.”
They start to see the dawning recognition in each other’s eyes …some start to weep. Others are silent, very still, lest this moment should somehow escape them. And then, once they start, they all start at once: talking and gathering their belongings strewn across the hillside, packing, dressing, for the trip back home.
Noticing 