The text read this week for Ascension Day (May 17), and the text read for the seventh Sunday of Easter (May 20), describes the end of a beginning and the beginning of a life lived towards a new end. Luke concludes his first volume, his “gospel,” with Jesus’ final earthly directives to his disciples. The emphasis of these final words from Jesus is on how all aspects of scripture “the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms” were fulfilled through his suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection.

Jesus redefines his “disciples” now as “witnesses” to this new truth, this new reality. Luke’s text provides some tension as Jesus offers his last words. Jesus pledges that he is “sending” (“apostello”) that which the father has “promised” — the Holy Spirit. But it is a “not yet” event. This promise…