Where Is Heaven?

Tim Doppel
11 hours ago
3 min read

Blue sky partly covered with scattered white clouds, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.

Ascension Sunday; Matthew 28:16-20

Teach them to carry out everything I have taught you.

The Gospel story of Jesus ascending “up” into heaven is one, quite honestly, I haven’t given a whole lot of thought to. My focus has always been more on the reaction of the disciples. It hit me kinda funny, the image of a group of adults, standing in a group, looking up at the sky. It was so pathetic, that God decided he better send a couple of angels down to move the group along.

When I do look at what Jesus did, or, rather, what the Gospels say Jesus did, I am a bit confounded. He “rose” to heaven? I am not trying to be snarky here, but, where exactly did Jesus go? Where is heaven? Is heaven a place? Other than to say it is where God dwells, the Bible is not super clear on defining heaven. So, please, excuse my confusion.

The one thing that is crystal clear is what Jesus wanted his disciples to do. Teach them to carry out everything I have taught you. (Mt. 28:20) The message to his apostles, and everyone who followed Jesus was laid out in simple language. “I have taught you what you need to know to live in love. Now go and teach everyone else the same thing. I want everyone to live in love.” Okay, you won’t find that in the Bible; I’m just paraphrasing Jesus’ message here.

I think that the real message of the Feast of the Ascension, is that Jesus simply told his friends, “Okay, it’s your turn.” It took Peter and the gang a couple of weeks to really understand and be brave enough to start doing what Jesus asked. But after the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost, there was no stopping them. And for the next 200 years or so, the followers of Jesus had something really special working. Members of “The Way” took care of each other, fed those who were hungry, shared their possessions with those who had none. Yes, they were persecuted, but they visited each other in prison to encourage them. They never lost hope.

Now, 2,000 years later, something has been lost in the translation. The people who say they are Christians, followers of Christ, have split into so many different ways of thinking and acting. The focus has become trying to reenact Jesus rising into heaven when we die, and not thinking about what is going on around us every day. The belief is, if I go to Mass, and say certain prayers, and donate enough money, and do whatever the church leaders say, then I’ll go to heaven.

And yet, Jesus never said to do any of that. He said to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoners, care for the widows and orphans, and to love everyone. THAT is what Jesus wanted his followers to do 2,000 years ago, and that’s what he wants me to do now. Heaven is here and now in the world all around me. Yes, it’s the poor in Gaza and Sudan and Haiti. Yes it’s the poor in downtown Detroit. But its also the poor on the street corner as I drive about town. It’s the poor who work two jobs in a nursing home to care for their kids. It’s the lonely person down the street.

Just as Jesus ascended, I too must ascend into the world to witness and work for justice, peace and reconciliation. Now our wider service must begin. Why do you stand there looking up toward heaven? It’s our turn! Go into the world, for the love of the world!”

Every Day.