This Week

This week at praxis...Staying in Jerusalem

In the first book, Theophilus, 
I wrote about all that Jesus did 
and taught from the beginning 
until the day when he was taken 
up to heaven, after giving 
instructions through the Holy Spirit 
to the apostles whom he had chosen. 
After his suffering he presented 
himself alive to them by many 
convincing proofs, appearing to 
them during forty days and speaking 
about the kingdom of God.  
While staying with them, 
he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, 
but to wait there for the promise 
of the Father. "This," he said, 
"is what you have heard from me;  
for John baptized with water, 
but you will be baptized with 
the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 

So when they had come together, 
they asked him, "Lord, is this 
the time when you will restore 
the kingdom to Israel?"  
He replied, "It is not for you 
to know the times or periods that 
the Father has set by his own authority.  
But you will receive power when the 
Holy Spirit has come upon you; 
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, 
in all Judea and Samaria, and to the 
ends of the earth."  When he had said this, 
as they were watching, he was lifted up, 
and a cloud took him out of their sight.  
While he was going and they were gazing 
up toward heaven, suddenly two men 
in white robes stood by them.  
They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you 
stand looking up toward heaven? 
This Jesus, who has been taken up from 
you into heaven, will come in the same 
way as you saw him go into heaven." 
	-Acts 1:1-11 


Following this astonishing statement by Jesus, 
the narrator provides a corresponding surprise.  
all this has been taking place on the momentous 
Mount of Olives, where Jesus was arrested.  
These words are a speech of farewell. 
- The Storyteller's Companion to the Bible:  Volume 12,  
Dennis E Smith and Michael E. Williams, editors 

Psalm 122 makes Jerusalem the symbol of peace, 
justice and unity of the twelve tribes of Israel.  
It then became the symbol of the Messiah's 
kingdom which the Christian Church opened to all peoples. 

In the description given in the Book of Revelation, 
Jerusalem symbolizes the new order of creation 
which will replace the existing world at the end of time.  
It no longer denotes the traditional paradise, 
but something which surpasses all tradition - and absolute newness... 
- The Penguin Dictionary of Symbols,  
Jean Chevalier and Alain Gheerbrant 

In danger there is great power. 
		- Agnes Whistling Elk, in Lynn V. Andrews, Crystal Women 

It's like inviting what scares us to introduce 
itself and hang around for awhile.  
As Milarepa sang to the monsters he found in his cave, 
"It is wonderful you demons came today.  
You must come again tomorrow.  From time to time, 
we should  converse."  We start by working 
with the monsters in our mind.  
Then we develop the wisdom and compassion 
to communicate sanely with the threats and 
fears of our daily life. 

The Tibetan yogini Machig Labdron was 
one who fearlessly trained with this view.  
She said that in her tradition they did not 
exorcise demons.  They treated them with compassion.  
The advice she was given by her teacher 
and passed on to her students was, 
"Approach what you find repulsive, 
help the ones you think you cannot help, 
and go to places that scare you." 
  	-  Pema Chodron, When Things Fall Apart   

Questions:


	What must it have been like for the apostles to hear 
	they must stay in Jerusalem, where Jesus was murdered? 
	When have you gone, or stayed, somewhere dangerous?
 
	How do you stay in Jerusalem in your life? 
	How do you know when it is time to leave? 
	What gifts or power have you received by staying?  
	What gifts do you need to stay?