Jesus’ Ongoing Humanity
- davidwperk
- May 29
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Thursday, May 29, 2025
The week of the sixth Sunday of Easter
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s epistle reading:
10 It was fitting that God,* for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. . . .
14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters* in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
(You will find the full text of today’s epistle reading at the end of this reflection.)
Daily Office Lectionary readings (BCP, 962)
AM Psalm 8, 47; PM Psalm 24, 96
Ezekiel 1:1-14,24-28b; Hebrews 2:5-18; Matthew 28:16-20
The Feast of the Ascension
David's Reflections
We celebrate Ascension Day, today, forty days after Easter, because Luke/Acts places the Ascension forty days after the resurrection. The Feast of the Ascension is one of seven principal feasts of the church year along with Easter Day, The Day of Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, All Saints' Day (Nov 1), Christmas Day (Dec 25), and The Epiphany (Jan 6). Today we celebrate Christ’s ascension, his taking his place "at the right hand of the Father." This symbolic language focuses on his risen humanity being glorified and not on the arrangement of the furniture of heaven. The right hand of God expresses symbolically Jesus’ sharing in God’s sovereign reign over all things.
The second collect of the day (see below) focuses on what the ascension means for us. Because we are united with Christ by faith, not only is he present with us but we are present to God in him. He has taken our humanity and our human experience into the presence of God and there with Christ we all dwell.
It may seem strange to think of the risen Christ in heaven as still being human; yet, that is exactly the point that the Hebrews reading makes. There, in the real humanity of Jesus, not only does our human experience find a place in Christ with God, but there we see our own destiny prefigured. We, too, shall be in God’s presence with Jesus. These phrases in particular express the writer’s grasp of Jesus’ ongoing human experience.
v. 14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things
vv 17-18 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters* in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
Luke and Acts alone describe Christ’s ascension. But, the entire New Testament assumes that Christ has returned to heaven and there exists with God in bodily form (see for example Philippians 2:1-9; John 17, 20. In his appearance to Mary Magdalene in John 20, Jesus tells her not to touch him because he has not yet ascended.) In God’s presence Christ prays for us (See Romans 8). The Easter Acclamation, "Alleluia, Christ is Risen," takes on its fullest meaning in this celebration. Our Lord is risen and has ascended and today shares our human experience in the presence of God.
Collect of the Day, Sixth Sunday of Easter
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. (BCP, 225)
Today we celebrate The Feast of the Ascension
Collect of Ascension Day
Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (BCP, 226)
or this
Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 226)
Collect of the Weekdays of Easter
Almighty God, you show the light of your truth to those who are in error, to the intent that they may return to the way of righteousness: Grant to those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to it; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Weekday Eucharistic Propers, p. 64)
A Collect for Guidance
Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)
A Collect for Mission
O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 123)
Daily Office Epistle, Hebrews 2:5-18
5 Now God* did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. 6But someone has testified somewhere,‘What are human beings that you are mindful of them,* or mortals, that you care for them?* 7 You have made them for a little while lower* than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honour,* 8 subjecting all things under their feet.’Now in subjecting all things to them, God* left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, 9but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower* than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God* he might taste death for everyone.
10 It was fitting that God,* for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.* For this reason Jesus* is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,* 12saying,‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,* in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.’ 13And again,‘I will put my trust in him.’And again,‘Here am I and the children whom God has given me.’
14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters* in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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