Song of the Day - 4th June

It has been a month since I last posted - I didn't mean to leave it so long, but the new day job is a lot busier than the old one!! 

I should have posted today's Song of the Day on May 29th - it is for Ascension Day.

Ascension Day is a Christian remembrance of the bodily Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. Following the account of Acts 1:3 that the risen Jesus appeared for 40 days prior to his Ascension, Ascension Day is traditionally celebrated on a Thursday, the fortieth day of Easter according to inclusive counting, although some Christian denominations have moved the observance to the following Sunday, sometimes called Ascension Sunday. 

The observance of this feast is of great antiquity. Eusebius seems to hint at the celebration of it in the 4th century. At the beginning of the 5th century, Augustine of Hippo says that it is of Apostolic origin, and he speaks of it in a way that shows it was the universal observance of the Catholic Church long before his time.

The poem I have set to celebrate this day is called Ascension Day by Christina Rossetti. It is a poignant depiction of the Apostles' life after Jesus ascended to Heaven, their desire to follow Him, their acceptance of their lot to stay behind and continue His work and teachings, but the final line "Is that His cloud?" speaks of their continued heart-felt longing to be with their Redeemer.

Christina Georgina Rossetti (5 December 1830 – 29 December 1894) was an extraordinary English writer renowned for her romantic, devotional, and children's poetry, including "Goblin Market" and "Remember." She also penned the lyrics to two well-loved Christmas carols: "In the Bleak Midwinter,” famously set to music by Gustav Holst, Katherine Kennicott Davis, and Harold Darke, and "Love Came Down at Christmas," which has also been beautifully set by Darke and other composers.

Ascension Day

By Christina Rossetti

“A Cloud received Him out of their sight.”

When Christ went up to Heaven the Apostles stayed

Gazing at Heaven with souls and wills on fire,

Their hearts on flight along the track He made,

Winged by desire.

Their silence spake: “Lord, why not follow Thee?

Home is not home without Thy Blessed Face,

Life is not life. Remember, Lord, and see,

Look back, embrace.

“Earth is one desert waste of banishment,

Life is one long-drawn anguish of decay.

Where Thou wert wont to go we also went:

Why not today?”

Nevertheless a cloud cut off their gaze:

They tarry to build up Jerusalem,

Watching for Him, while thro’ the appointed days

He watches them.

They do His Will, and doing it rejoice,

Patiently glad to spend and to be spent:

Still He speaks to them, still they hear His Voice

And are content.

For as a cloud received Him from their sight,

So with a cloud will He return ere long:

Therefore they stand on guard by day, by night,

Strenuous and strong.

They do, they dare, they beyond seven times seven

Forgive, they cry God’s mighty word aloud:

Yet sometimes haply lift tired eyes to Heaven–

“Is that His cloud?”