On Ascension and Mary Poppins

The story of Christ’s Ascension into heaven is one that kindles our imagination. It is a visually compelling narrative. The idea of Jesus physically floating up into the clouds has captivated us for millennia, inspiring countless works of art from 8th century Anglo-Saxon ivory reliefs to Rembrandt’s famous 17th century painting. Ascension is so fascinating to us, in fact, that Jesus is not the only figure in our culture who has ascended heavenward. Most of us have watched another body rise up and float away into the clouds. I’m referring, of course, to Mary Poppins. 

I absolutely adored Mary Poppins as a young person. She made liquid medicine taste good. She made an entire playroom clean itself. She made chalk drawings come to life. She could talk to birds. But most importantly, at least in my young mind, Mary Poppins could fit everything she could possibly need into one suitcase. A true miracle. 

As the story goes, this magical caregiver came into the life of the Banks family quite literally from above. She floated down from the clouds holding onto her umbrella and whipped the Banks children into shape. Young Jane and Michael learned manners, responsibility, and self-confidence, all while embarking on adventures that only Mary Poppins could curate. 

And then, just as suddenly, Mary Poppins left the way she came, floating away, holding onto her umbrella. The children were devastated to see her go, but she had warned them from the day she arrived that she could only stay for a little while. Even as a little girl, I understood that Mary Poppins had to leave the Banks children because children have to grow up. They have to leave behind the trappings of childhood, and they have to learn how to say goodbye. 

Jesus, too, reminds his disciples again and again that he is only with them for a little while, and so it is a bittersweet moment when they finally gather to say goodbye to their friend and teacher. The disciples also had to grow up, though perhaps in a spiritual sense. Jesus had taught them everything they needed to know about how to live faithfully and care for one another, and it was time for them to take up that mantle and begin to teach others. 

The Ascension speaks to us in our spiritual infancy. The road to the cross is fraught with danger and heartbreak, and we all want a little extra hand-holding from time to time. We want Jesus to speak for himself, to do the heavy lifting, to show himself to the world while we watch from our pews. But the Ascension reminds us that we can no longer stand on the sidelines. We are the body of Christ in the world and it is up to us to proclaim the Gospel in Jesus’ name. 

As an adult, my relationship with Mary Poppins has changed. For starters, I am a better suitcase packer than I once was, although I wouldn’t mind some magical assistance in keeping my house clean. But these days, I understand some of the nuances of the story of Mary Poppins that I missed as a child; namely, that Mary Poppins didn’t come to the Banks family to save the children from their childish ways. She came to save their father, who had lost his inner child altogether. 

Before Mary Poppins arrived, the Banks children and their father had a very fractured relationship. And in addition to lessons about obedience, reliability, and honesty, Jane and Michael also learned to be patient with their father, and their father, in turn, rediscovered his own curiosity and joy and childlike wonder at the world. As their relationship was restored, Mary Poppins work was done. 

This is, essentially, the foundation of our Christian hope. As the world becomes reconciled to God, Christ’s mission in the world is fulfilled, and we are able to turn our gaze toward his triumphant return at the end of the age. And so, the Ascension also speaks to us in our spiritual maturity. As we become seasoned practitioners of the faith, we will find moments of deep connection with our God. In these moments of spiritual fulfillment, we are able to look without fear towards our own ascension, towards a joyful and complete union with our creator and redeemer. 

I’ve seen on social media that several Episcopal churches are celebrating the feast of the Ascension by flying kites. Clearly I’m not alone in finding a beautiful symmetry between this feast day and the story of Mary Poppins. They are both stories for all ages and all spiritual journeys. They remind us of our need to step out of our comfort zone as people of faith, and they remind us of our need to sink back into that comfort and joy when our work is done. 

And both the Ascension and Mary Poppins remind us to welcome spiritual reconciliation whenever we get a chance, because after all, we only have a little while to do the work God has given us to do. And like Mary Poppins, God has already given us everything we might need in our suitcases. Amen.