In the
first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the
day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the
apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs
after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about
the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart
from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have
heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be
baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”
When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”
Responsorial
Psalm Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
R. (6) God
mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the LORD, amid trumpet blasts. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise. God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the LORD, amid trumpet blasts. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise. God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Reading 2
Eph 1:17-23
Brothers
and sisters: May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give
you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the
eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that
belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the
holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who
believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might: which he worked in
Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the
heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and
every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And
he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the
church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in
every way.
Or Heb
9:24-28; 10:19-20
Christ
did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but
heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. Not that he
might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the
sanctuary with blood that is not his own; if that were so, he would have had to
suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has
appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice. Just as it
is appointed that men and women die once, and after this the judgment, so also
Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time,
not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.
Alleluia
Mt 28:19a, 20b
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk
24:46-53
Jesus
said to his disciples: “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and
rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of
sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from
Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold I am sending the
promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with
power from on high.”
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.
