Addoliad ar Y Dyrchafael
Yn ystod y tarddiant coronafirws, mae'r Esgob yn darparu deunydd i gefnogi addoliad ar yr aelwyd ar brif wyliau. Mae hyn yn cynnwys trefn o wasanaeth ar gyfer Litwrgi'r Gair, a myfyrdod wedi'i recordio. Mae testun y myfyrdod hefyd ar gael yma.
Darlleniadau
Act 1:1-11
Ysgrifennais y llyfr cyntaf, Theoffilus, am yr holl bethau y dechreuodd Iesu eu gwneud a'u dysgu hyd y dydd y cymerwyd ef i fyny, wedi iddo roi gorchmynion trwy'r Ysbryd Glân i'r apostolion yr oedd wedi eu dewis. Dangosodd ei hun hefyd iddynt yn fyw, wedi ei ddioddefaint, drwy lawer o arwyddion sicr, gan fod yn weledig iddynt yn ystod deugain diwrnod a llefaru am deyrnas Dduw. A thra oedd gyda hwy, gorchmynnodd iddynt beidio ag ymadael o Jerwsalem, ond disgwyl am yr hyn a addawodd y Tad. “Fe glywsoch am hyn gennyf fi,” meddai. “Oherwydd â dŵr y bedyddiodd Ioan, ond fe'ch bedyddir chwi â'r Ysbryd Glân ymhen ychydig ddyddiau.”
Felly, wedi iddynt ddod ynghyd, fe ofynasant iddo, “Arglwydd, ai dyma'r adeg yr wyt ti am adfer y deyrnas i Israel?” Dywedodd yntau wrthynt, “Nid chwi sydd i wybod amseroedd neu brydiau y mae'r Tad wedi eu gosod o fewn ei awdurdod ef ei hun. Ond fe dderbyniwch nerth wedi i'r Ysbryd Glân ddod arnoch, a byddwch yn dystion i mi yn Jerwsalem, ac yn holl Jwdea a Samaria, a hyd eithaf y ddaear.” Wedi iddo ddweud hyn, a hwythau'n edrych, fe'i dyrchafwyd, a chipiodd cwmwl ef o'u golwg. Fel yr oeddent yn syllu tua'r nef, ac yntau'n mynd, dyma ddau ŵr yn sefyll yn eu hymyl mewn dillad gwyn, ac meddai'r rhain, “Wŷr Galilea, pam yr ydych yn sefyll yn edrych tua'r nef? Bydd yr Iesu hwn, sydd wedi ei gymryd i fyny oddi wrthych i'r nef, yn dod yn yr un modd ag y gwelsoch ef yn mynd i'r nef.”
Luc 24:44-53
Dywedodd wrthynt, “Dyma ystyr fy ngeiriau a leferais wrthych pan oeddwn eto gyda chwi: ei bod yn rhaid i bob peth gael ei gyflawni sy'n ysgrifenedig amdanaf yng Nghyfraith Moses a'r proffwydi a'r salmau.” Yna agorodd eu meddyliau, iddynt ddeall yr Ysgrythurau. Meddai wrthynt, “Fel hyn y mae'n ysgrifenedig: fod y Meseia i ddioddef, ac i atgyfodi oddi wrth y meirw ar y trydydd dydd, a bod edifeirwch, yn foddion maddeuant pechodau, i'w gyhoeddi yn ei enw ef i'r holl genhedloedd, gan ddechrau yn Jerwsalem. Chwi yw'r tystion i'r pethau hyn. Ac yn awr yr wyf fi'n anfon arnoch yr hyn a addawodd fy Nhad; chwithau, arhoswch yn y ddinas nes eich gwisgo chwi oddi uchod â nerth.”
Aeth â hwy allan i gyffiniau Bethania. Yna cododd ei ddwylo a'u bendithio. Wrth iddo'u bendithio, fe ymadawodd â hwy ac fe'i dygwyd i fyny i'r nef. Wedi iddynt ei addoli ar eu gliniau, dychwelsant yn llawen iawn i Jerwsalem. Ac yr oeddent yn y deml yn ddi-baid, yn bendithio Duw.
Dyfyniadau o’r Beibl Cymraeg Newydd a’r Beibl Cymraeg Newydd Diwygiedig 2004 hawlfraint Cymdeithas (Brydeinig a Thramor) y Beibl. Cedwir pob hawl.
Testun myfyrdod yr Esgob
Actau 1:6-11
Dydw i ddim yn gallu darllen mapiau. Ddim yn dda iawn, beth bynnag. Gwybodaeth ddefnyddiol i unrhyw un sydd eisiau teithio gyda mi pe byddwn i heb fy satnaf. Rydych chi wedi cael eich rhybuddio. Y broblem, rwy’n meddwl, yw na alla i weld yn glir iawn sut mae'r cyfuchliniau, dotiau arwyddion a ffiniau yn edrych ar y ddaear: dydyn nhw ond llinellau a marciau amwys iawn – i mi, o leiaf. Ond mae pobl eraill yn gallu darllen mapiau’n dda iawn. Mae mapiau’n gyfan gwbl glir iddyn nhw, yn yr un llinellau dotiau dirgel mae nhw’n gallu gweld mynyddoedd, nentydd a llwybrau yn agor o'u blaen.
Heddiw, yn ein haddoliad ar y Sul, rydyn ni’n ystyried Dyrchafael Iesu, yr union ddyddiad yw Dydd Iau yr wythnos hon. Ac yn ein darlleniad o’r Testament Newydd, o Actau 1, rydyn ni’n clywed sut y cafodd yr apostolion brofiad, ac yn ceisio disgrifio sut y daeth Iesu’n absennol yn gorfforol er mwyn bod yn bresennol yn yr ysbryd mewn ffordd newydd.Byddwn yn dathlu hyn ar y Sulgwyn ddydd Sul nesaf ac yn ystyried sut y mae Ysbryd Duw ar waith yn ein plith. Wrth iddyn nhw deithio i’r anhysbys, roedd yn rhaid iddyn nhw ddygymod â darllen yr arwyddion roedden nhw wedi’u dysgu. Roedd fel antur newydd lle byddai’r bylchau’n cael eu llenwi, canfod eu ffordd drwy droadau heb fap cyflawn i ddangos y ffordd. Mae’n rhaid bod y dasg yn ymddangos yn anferth: ble i gychwyn? Beth yw’r cynllun? Mae’n hawdd meddwl fod hyn yn gam rhy bell ac ymhell y tu hwnt iddyn nhw.
Ond eto, eu tasg nhw yw ein tasg ninnau hefyd, y cwestiynau roedden nhw'n eu hwynebu yw'r un rhai ag sy'n ein hwynebu ni. Sut allwn ni ymateb i Dduw o’r newydd ac ailddarganfod presenoldeb ysbrydol Crist yn ein plith?Y peth cyntaf allen ni sylwi arno yw eu bod wedi dilyn yr hyn oedd wedi ei ddysgu iddyn nhw. Y wers galed o beth oedd bywyd wedi’i ffurfio gan y Deyrnas yn ei olygu oedd flaenaf yn eu meddyliau. Roedden nhw'n deall nad mater syml o ddilyn set o reolau oedd eu bywydau yng Nghrist ond yn sicr roedden nhw wedi ymrwymo i’r hyn yr oedd yr Arglwydd wedi’i ddysgu iddyn nhw.
Yr ail beth yw eu bod wedi gwneud hyn yn fwy gyda’i gilydd nac ar wahân. Fe fyddai yna eglwysi wedi’u gwasgaru dros y cyfan o Fôr y Canoldir a thu hwnt ond, er gwaethaf eu gwendidau, roedden nhw'n gwybod eu bod yn un yng Nghrist. Yn ei holl lythyrau, mae Paul yn gwneud ei orau glas i ddod â phobl at ei gilydd: roedd yn cymharu eu hundod i undod corff – llawer o rannau ond un corff. Roedd yn eu dysgu fod cariad yn trechu popeth a, pe byddai cariad yn rheoli ein bywydau'n llawnach, byddai'n haws i bobl eraill weld Crist ynom ni.
Y trydydd pethroedden nhw wedi dysgu oedd dibynnu mwy ar Dduw. Weithiau, gallai ymddangos fod y drysau wedi cau ym mhob man. Ond agorodd Duw yr hyn oedd wedi'i gau ac aros gyda nhw ar eu taith. Wrth iddyn nhw ddarganfod ei bresenoldeb ynddyn nhw, roedd eu gweddigarwch yn dyfnhau. Roedden nhw wrth eu bodd gyda’i gilydd, yn torri bara ac yn rhannu cyfeillgarwch. Mae un hanes yn cofnodi achos difrifol o floeddio canu emynau gefn ganol nos mewn carchar.
Pwynt y Dyrchafael yn hyn i gyd yw nad yw ynghylch absenoldeb Duw.Wrth gwrs, fe fydden nhw angen gras yr Ysbryd Glân i roi nerth a dewrder iddyn nhw, ond doedd yna erioed syniad mai dangos y diwedd oedd hyn, ond dechreuad newydd. Yn yr hanes mawr roedd Duw’n ei ysgrifennu, roedd hyn yn bennod newydd. Yn hyn i gyd, doedd ganddyn nhw ddim map fel y gwyddom ni amdano ar gyfer y daith. Ond roedden nhw'n gallu dehongli beth oedd ar y tir o'u blaenau a sut i’w droedio yn y dyfodol newydd.
A dyma ni, yn dal dan gyfnod clo ac yn byw bywyd tra gwahanol i’r un oedd gennym ni 10 wythnos yn ôl. Efallai ein bod yn teimlo fod rhywun wedi pwyso atal ar fotwm ein bywyd. Ond mae Dyrchafael Iesu’n troi ein calonnau a'n meddyliau i ystyried sut y gallwn ni ymateb i beth bynnag sy'n ein hwynebu. Fel nhw, bydd yn rhaid i ni deithio’n dda, gyda’r cyfan rydyn ni wedi’i ddysgu, i gyfarfod y foment hon. Byddwn ni angen ein gilydd a rhodd o weddi a chyfeillgarwch. Fel nhw, byddwn ni angen Ysbryd y Sulgwyn.
Efallai nad hon yw’r daith roedden ni’n ei disgwyl, ond mae Duw wedi darparu popeth rydym ni ei hangen i’w cherdded. Bydded iddo Ef gerdded gyda ni bob dydd a dangos i ni ei bresenoldeb. Amen.
Worship on the Ascension
During the coronavirus outbreak, the Bishop is providing material to support worship at home on the major festivals. This includes an order of service for a Liturgy of the Word, and a recorded meditation. The text of the meditation is also available here.
Readings
Acts 1:1-11
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.”
Luke 24:44-53
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
From The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition), copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
The text of the Bishop's meditation
Acts 1:6-11
I don’t read maps. At least not very well. Useful information to anyone who wants to travel with me and I am without my satnav. You have been warned. The problem is, I think, that I can’t quite work out what the contours, signage dots and boundaries all look like on the ground: they’re just drawings and marks without concrete expression – at least for me. But others read maps very well. It makes complete sense to them and as they peer at those same mysterious dots, they easily identify the mountains, streams and paths which are laid before us.
Today in our Sunday worship we consider the Ascension of Jesus, the set date being Thursday of this week. And in our New Testament reading from Acts 1 we heard how the apostles experienced and then tried to describe the way Jesus became physically absent in order to become spiritual present in a new way. We will celebrate this at Pentecost next Sunday and consider the way God’s Spirit is at work in our midst. As they journeyed out into the unknown they had to learn to read the signs they had been taught. It was a new adventure in which the gaps would be filled, new contours navigated without a complete roadmap with which to work. The task must have seemed colossal: where to begin? What’s the plan? Easy to think this a step too far and utterly beyond them.
And yet their task is ours too so the questions they faced are the very ones which face us too. How might we respond to God afresh and rediscover the spiritual presence of Christ in our lives? The first thing we might note is that they took with them things they had been taught. The hard lessons of what a Kingdom-shaped life involved now became their first concern. They understood that their life in Christ couldn’t be reduced to a set of rules but they certainly committed themselves to what their Lord had taught them.
The second thing is that they did this more together than apart. There were churches which would be scattered across the whole of the Mediterranean and beyond but, despite their failings, they knew they were one in Christ. In all of his letters Paul is at pains to gather people together: he compared their unity to that of a body – many parts but one body. He taught them that love overcame everything and that, if it controlled our lives more fully, others would more easily see Christ in us.
The third thing: they learned to rely more on God. Sometimes it seemed that doors were shut at every point. But God opened what was shut and stayed with them on their journey. As they discovered his presence with them, it deepened their prayerfulness. They delighted to meet together, breaking bread and sharing fellowship. One story records a serious bout of midnight hymn singing when in prison.
The point of the Ascension in all of these things is that it was not about the absence of God. They would indeed need the grace of the Holy Spirit to give them strength and courage but there was never a sense this marked an end so much as a new turn. In the great story God was writing, this was a new chapter. In all of these things, they had no map for the journey as we would understand. But they did have a way of making sense both of the land ahead and how to navigate this new future.
Well, we are still in lockdown and living a life quite different from the one that was ours 10 weeks ago. We might feel someone has pressed pause on the life button. But the Ascension of Jesus turns our hearts and minds to consider how we can respond to whatever faces us. Like them we will need to travel well, with all that we have learned to meet this moment. We will need each other and the gifts of prayer and fellowship. Like them we will need the Spirit of Pentecost.
This might not be the journey we expected but God has provided everything we need to walk this way. May He walk with us each day and show us his presence. Amen