Until Sunday

Jesus riding a donkey on Palm Sunday.

If ever there was a moment of divine intervention in the world before the shouts of, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia,” it may very well be the somewhat insignificant moment when two of the disciples, following the orders of Jesus, enter the holy city and find a colt, untie it, in order to bring it to Jesus, only to have the owner of the colt ask, “why are you untying the colt?” The disciples respond with, “the Lord needs it.” And without a moment’s hesitation, the owner allows the colt to be taken. 

The colt was worth much: a possible stream of income; a mode of transportation; a means of support. Yet, the owner, upon hearing “the Lord needs it” honors the request of the disciples. It is a strange interaction, and the owner receives no moment of honor in scripture. We do not know if the animal’s owner was a follower of Jesus. We only hear the disciple’s statement of need. This, for me, is a moment of divine intervention, however insignificant. In the Old Testament, the prophet Zechariah, spoke of a day when the Messiah would come:

“Tell the daughter of Zion, look, your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

We are quickly approaching the gates of Jerusalem. Or perhaps by the time you read this, we will already be well on our way to the upper room for the Last Supper. Much has happened. Miracles and mischief, planning and plotting. 

In these last days of the life of Jesus, it is not simply a colt the Lord has need of – it is us. The Lord has need of our commitment to follow, even in our questions and our doubts. The Lord has need of our willingness to be faithful even when we do not understand. The Lord has need of each of us – even as we might stumble – we are the hands and feet of the One who calls us by name. It is, for me, all divine intervention and, dear friends, there is nothing insignificant about the invitation to follow. The shouts of “Hosanna!” on Palm Sunday will give way to the whispers of stories and laughter at the Last Supper. The conversation at dinner in the upper room will descend into an olive grove for prayer where we will meet struggle and betrayal. The betrayal will lead to arrest and acceptance of what is to come. And what will come, will be at the hands of Roman soldiers. A cross will rise and a Savior will be nailed to that cross. Yet the Savior will not be held by nails, he will be held by love. A moment of divine intervention for each of us.

From Good Friday, we will know only darkness and defeat. 

Until Sunday comes. When brave women, breaking rules, will find their way to the grave of their friend – their teacher – their Savior; only to find the stone rolled away and the grave empty. The sun will rise that morning to tell a new story of divine intervention. A new story of life when all was thought lost. A new story of hope when all was thought defeated. A new story of joy where all was thought grief. It will be Mary Magdalene who will first set eyes on the risen Savior, her friend, Jesus. Soon enough, we too, will hear the shouts of “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!” Our hearts will beat faster. Our ears will ring. Our eyes will seek the face of our Savior. And the good news will once again be reminded to us. “He is risen just as he said.” One more moment of divine intervention to change the whole world – to change our own little world – forever. What a week it will be!

Maybe this is the year, you find yourself in worship for each of these holy days – these divine interventions in the world as we know it to be. “Tell the daughter of Zion, look, your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” My friends, the King is coming. And you are invited to join your Savior, and the rest of us, on the journey. “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!”

Welcome to Holy Week at Ascension.

See you on the road.

Pastor Chris

March Madness

“He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6

As I’m writing this my favorite time of year is in full swing: March Madness! And it has me thinking, life can feel a bit like the whirlwind of the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament – full of unexpected upsets, last-second decisions, and moments that leave us either cheering with joy or wondering what just happened. 

Much like the excitement of March Madness, our daily lives can feel unpredictable. We face personal struggles, uncertainty about the world around us, and challenges that test our strength and faith. Yet, into this very real “madness,” the message of Easter speaks clearly and powerfully – He is risen. But this truth isn’t just a moment in history – it’s a living promise that hope is never lost, even when life feels overwhelming.

Spring itself becomes a beautiful reflection of this promise. After months of cold and dormancy, the earth begins to awaken. Flowers bloom, animals emerge from hibernation, and the days grow longer. What once seemed lifeless is once again colorful and vibrant. In the same way, the resurrection of Jesus reminds us that God brings new life out of what feels barren, and renewal out of what feels broken.

In our struggles – whether they’re worries about family, health, finances, or simply the weight of a busy and uncertain world – Easter invites us to hold on to hope. Not a fleeting or wishful hope, but a deep and enduring assurance that God is at work, even when we can’t see the full picture.

Because Jesus lives, we’re offered peace in the midst of chaos. We’re given love that doesn’t waver with circumstances. And we’re filled with a joy that goes deeper than temporary victories or defeats.

So whether you find yourself celebrating a “win” in life or navigating a difficult season, remember this – the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is still at work today. Just as a tournament game can turn in an instant, so too can God bring unexpected transformation into our lives.

This Easter season, may you experience the fresh hope of spring, the steady peace of our Savior Jesus Christ, the unshakable love of God, and the deep joy of the resurrection. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! 

Happy Easter!

Pastor Tony

The Gift of Resurrection

We have completed another Lenten journey here at Ascension. Yet, for many in our community, the “wilderness” does not end with the season. Many of us find ourselves on paths that feel never-ending: chronic illness, the weight of grief, family fractures, job loss, or the long shadow of financial crisis.

For the Latino ministry, the month of March was a journey of profound contrast—marked by joy, sadness, and the pain of separation. At the start of the month, one of our members made the difficult decision to return to her home country due to the dangers she faced here in the United States. On her final Sunday, we gathered around her, laying on hands to pray for God’s protection and prayers for her children and husband that were staying here in the US.

The following day, Pastor Tony, Pastor Chris, and I accompanied her to the airport. In that moment, we were reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12:26: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

The weeks that followed were filled with the “anxiety of the waiting room.” Members of Ascension and I accompanied a Venezuelan family to their final immigration hearing in Chicago; days later, we did the same for a Salvadoran family. Simultaneously, my own siblings in El Salvador were preparing for their appointments at the U.S. Embassy to seek permission to join us here in Waukesha. My father filed their application to move here over thirteen years ago. Sadly he died before they were able to join us here.

As I write this, the outcomes of these hearings are still unknown. By the time you read this, the “verdict” on these families’ lives will have already been delivered. This is the reality of our community: a life lived in the tension between fear and hope.

Though these events produce a desert of uncertainty, a voice always emerges to break the silence. Jesus is our constant companion. The families forced to leave or those fighting to stay have encountered a Jesus at Ascension who may be different from the one they once knew—a Jesus who enters through locked doors to say, “Peace be with you.”

In His first appearance to the disciples after the Resurrection, Jesus wasn’t just offering a greeting; He was announcing a new beginning. He taught us that while we will experience every kind of hardship, hardship is never the final word. There is always a new beginning and a new life because Christ has risen! The desert is real, but the empty tomb is equally real and it has the power to overcome the desert. May the joy, peace, and hope of the Resurrection surround and strengthen you and your family today and always.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

Pastor Edwin