Earthly actions and interactions can awaken heaven in us

On a beautiful spring Saturday morning, my wife, Jen, and I took our dog for a run. The final stop was a large, fenced field on the church campus adjacent to our community garden. The sun was shining, the trees were blooming, and the dog was in heaven, chasing the ball again and again. Students from Adamson High School were laughing together as they weeded and watered a bed of newly seeded soil.

Something stirred in me — a kind of this-is-how-it-was-meant-to-be feeling.

Hopefully all of us get a taste of that sometimes — that experience of heaven on earth, moments that give us hope for the future. Beyond politics, bickering and suffering, we can imagine a way to live and work together to make something beautiful.

Acts 1:9 reports that forty days after the resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven. “… As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight and they were gazing into heaven as he went …”

Can you picture those disciples staring into that blank, blue sky?

The most unusual thing happened after Jesus’ resurrection. He wouldn’t stay all the time, but just appeared here and there, easily crossing back and forth between heaven and earth. Frederick Buechner said that Easter means, “we can never nail him down, not even if the nails we use are real and the thing we nail him to is a cross.”

With the Ascension (celebrated this year on May 25), Jesus seemed gone for good. The word for “cloud” means “a great luminosity.” In a brilliant light, he left. And the disciples must have wondered, “Is he really gone?”

Here’s what’s odd: a cloud always symbolized God’s presence in the Bible. As

26 oakcliff.advocatemag.com MAY 2017

God led the people toward the Promised Land, he led them with a cloud by day and a fire by night. When the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the temple, the priests couldn’t bear to minister in the cloud-filled room. The glory of the creator of the galaxies was present.

And now?

The manner of Jesus’ ascension means that heaven and earth are very, very close.

Once Jesus was asked, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” He replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the

Baptist

CLIFF TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH / 125 Sunset Ave. / 214.942.8601

Serving Oak Cliff since 1898 / CliffTemple.org / English and Spanish 9 am Contemporary Worship / 10 am Sunday School / 11 am Traditional

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

EAST DALLAS CHRISTIAN CHURCH / 629 N. Peak Street / 214.824.8185 Sunday School 9:30 am / Worship 8:30 am - Chapel 10:50 am - Sanctuary / Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes / edcc.org

EPISCOPAL

ST. AUGUSTINE’S /1302 W. Kiest Blvd / staugustinesoakcliff.org

A diverse, liturgical church with deep roots in Oak Cliff and in the ancient faith / Holy Eucharist with Hymns Sunday 10:15 am

METHODIST

GRACE UMC / Diverse, Inclusive, Missional Sunday School for all ages, 9:30 am / Worship, 10:50 am 4105 Junius St. / 214.824.2533 / graceumcdallas.org

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF OAK CLIFF / oakcliffuu.org Sun. Worship 10am / Wed. Meditation 7pm / 3839 W. Kiest Blvd. Inclusive – Justice Seeking – Spirited – Eclectic – Liberal – Fun!

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

PROMISE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST / www.promiseucc.org

Kingdom of God is already among you.”

(Luke 17:20-21)

Often we find ourselves waiting for something to happen. If God would just break in, or show us a sign, or do something miraculous, then we will see the kingdom come.

What if the kingdom of heaven is here, among us, within us? What if it was not for one day far off, but for now? What if it’s within grasp, that by our actions and love we can see the kingdom come?

We don’t have to wait, gazing at the sky. Heaven is here and now.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Bishop Dunne Catholic School

Contact: Charleen Doan at 214.339.6561 ext. 4020 or admission@bdcs.org

A co-educational, college preparatory school serving students in grades 6-12. We provide a strong faith and valuebased education with high academic standards, encouraging all students to achieve their full potential. Our curriculum emphasizes individualized attention, and is constantly at the forefront of technology integration through the use of laptops, ebooks, and our Online Education Program. Additionally, we provide a full range of extracurricular activities ranging from athletics, to the arts, to clubs and service organizations.

HOLY

Trinity Catholic School

3815 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas 214-526-5113, htcsdallas.org For more than 100 years, Holy Trinity Catholic School, has been committed to the religious, intellectual, emotional, social and physical growth of each student. This commitment is carried out in a nurturing atmosphere with an emphasis on social awareness, service to others, and religious faith in the Catholic tradition. The Immaculate Heart Program at Holy Trinity School was initiated to fully realize our school’s mission of developing the whole child by meeting the needs of one of the most underserved and underperforming groups in catholic schools, children with dyslexia.

Lakehill Preparatory School

Leading to Success. 2720 Hillside Dr., Dallas 75214 / 214.826.2931 / lakehillprep.org Kindergarten through Grade 12 - Lakehill Preparatory School takes the word preparatory in its name very seriously. Throughout a student’s academic career, Lakehill builds an educational program that achieves its goal of enabling graduates to attend the finest, most rigorous universities of choice. Lakehill combines a robust, college-preparatory curriculum with opportunities for personal growth, individual enrichment, and community involvement. From kindergarten through high school, every Lakehill student is encouraged to strive, challenged to succeed, and inspired to excel.

ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL

4019 S. Hampton Rd. Dallas 75224/ 214.331.5139 / www.saintspride.com

At St. Elizabeth of Hungary, our fundamental task is the education of the whole child -- combining learning with faith, Catholic doctrines and moral teachings. We introduce all PK3-8th Grade students to the integrated ways of STEM. This approach to education is designed to revolutionize the teaching of subject areas such as mathematics and science by incorporating technology and engineering into regular curriculum. Over the past 10 years, 95% of St. Elizabeth 8th graders were accepted to their first choice high school. Join us for an informational school tour and see for yourself how easy it is to become a Saint! Call 214.331.5139 for information.

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