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Good morning. Today, many Christians celebrate the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, forty days after his resurrection. There's a lovely detail in this story that's always struck me. After Jesus had gone up into heaven the Apostles just stand there for a while staring at the sky, almost frozen with indecision: "what are we supposed to do now?" they seem to be asking. It takes an angel to tell them to stop hanging around and get on with the work Jesus has given them to do. I can easily empathise with the Apostles. A few years ago, my parents bought me a small wooden placard with the words: "If you are waiting for a sign, this is it!" I hang it on the wall of my office and it gives me a gentle nudge any time I find myself pondering if I should do something or not, or if I'm procrastinating or trying to convince myself that I should take more time before I make a decision.
There are lots of things we put off doing, some big, some small, sometimes because we’re frightened of the outcome, sometimes because we’re not sure it’s the right thing to do.  But the account of Jesus’ ascension into heaven is a reminder to Christians of the call to live as His disciples on earth, seeking to follow His example and put His teachings into practice.
And so the message of the angels can have relevance for us today, giving a gentle nudge to us saying: "Don't stand around looking at the sky - you've got work to do!" God our Father, you allot each of us our tasks and you help us to bring them to completion for our good and the good of all. Inspire us when we put off what needs to be done, encourage us when we are fearful of the future and teach us what is good and right and just. Amen.