Magyar Egyház, 1969 (48. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1969-05-01 / 5. szám

12

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

Barnabas K. Rőczey:

THE ASCENSION OF JESUS

The ascension of Jesus is clearly stated in the Bible, in the creeds and confessions of the Church. In the Book of Acts we read: “And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight” (1:9). We confess in the Apostles’ Creed: “He ascended into heaven.” The Heidelberg Catechism claims: “Christ was taken up from the earth into heaven before the eyes of his disciples” (Q. 46). “We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ. .. ascended above all visible heavens into the highest heaven ... and from heaven the same Christ will return in judgement” says the Second Helvetic Confession.

Acts 1 gives us the details of the last time Jesus was with the disciples. The scene is the Mount of Olivet. Jesus charged the apostles to wait in Jerusalem until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit. He also instructed them that after the Holy Spirit has come upon them, they should be his witnesses “in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth” (1:8). And then before their eyes he was taken up from the earth. He left no doubt in their minds about his going. This was important, as some were still looking for an earthly kingdom.

We believe that Jesus is in heaven. He “remains there on our behalf until he comes again to judge the living and the dead” (Heidelberg Catechism). His ascension was visible and bodily. He sits on the right hand of God and intercedes for us (Mk. 16:19, Rom. 8:34). We believe he will remain in heaven till he comes to judge the world.

We also believe that Jesus’ spiritual presence is not only in heaven, but also on earth. Before his ascension he comforted the disciples with these words: “Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt. 28:20). The Heidelberg Catechism explains this precious promise of our Lord in the following manner: “As a man he is no longer on earth, but in his divinity, majesty, grace, and Spirit, he is never absent from us” (Q. 47). This is of great comfort to the church and the believers.

Thus on Ascension Day we remember the ascension and exaltation of Christ. We believe that he is at the right hand of God on our behalf, but in his divinity, he is always with us. We recognize him as the Head of the Church and the Lord of the world, who will come again to judge both the living and the dead. Meanwhile, we worship him and proclaim him as the only Saviour and Lord of all things.

From Montevideo, Uruguay. To pay the mortgage on this Hungarian Reformed Church-building in South America donations are requested from our congregations.

EVERY CHRISTIAN A MISSIONARY

Annual Conference of United Church Women in Trenton

Close to 150 women from the Eastern Area, from as far as Bethlehem and Poughkeepsie, met on May 4 in Trenton to hear the Rev. Alexander Babos and the Rev. Maria Lörincz Babos (Bethlehem, Pa.), former missionaries to Manchuria. They not only related interesting episodes from their missionary work in the Far East but also pointed out that every Christian is a missionary by virtue of his or her membership in Christ’s Church. A person belongs to the faith-community because he believes. But how does one get faith? By hearing. “So listen to God’s Word and when you have accepted it, go and serve Him. Act! Do something! Also: communicate, tell about what God has told you so others may be called to His service, too.”

At the joint business meeting of the United Church Women, presided by Mrs. Irene Kovács, a resolution was passed calling on the women’s organizations of all congregations to raise funds and make donations to the Hungarian Reformed Church in Montevideo, Uruguay. It was also voted to donate a vase to the McKeesport church in memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Nagy.

New officers elected for 1969/70 and sworn in by Dr. Andrew Harsanyi, dean of the Eastern Classis, include Mrs. Rose Takach (Roebling) — 850 Civic Ave., Florence, N. J. 08518 — president, Mrs. Margaret Silagyi (Perth Amboy) vice-president, Mrs. Georgianna Harkel (Roebling) and Mrs. Piroska Hajdú (New York) secretaries, Mrs. Helen Nemish (Carteret) treasurer and Mrs. Irene Kovács (Trenton) chaplain.

The next annual meeting of the United Church Women will be in Roebling, May 3, 1970.

Dutch churches support special project of Hungarian Reformed Church—The Netherlands Reformed Church and the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands have contributed FI. 400.000 towards the re-location of the Hungarian Reformed Church’s home for mentally handicapped children. The present buildings at Dunaalmas were seriously damaged during recent floods. A new home, accomodating 150 children, is being constructed 25 km north of Budapest.