Reading
The Acts of the Apostles 1: 1-11
1:1 Certainly, O Theophilus, I composed the first discourse about everything that Jesus began to do and to teach,
1:2 instructing the Apostles, whom he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, even until the day on which he was taken up.
1:3 He also presented himself alive to them, after his Passion, appearing to them throughout forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God with many elucidations.
1:4 And dining with them, he instructed them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but that they should wait for the Promise of the Father, “about which you have heard,” he said, “from my own mouth.
1:5 For John, indeed, baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit, not many days from now.”
1:6 Therefore, those who had assembled together questioned him, saying, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?”
1:7 But he said to them: “It is not yours to know the times or the moments, which the Father has set by his own authority.
1:8 But you shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit, passing over you, and you shall be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”
1:9 And when he had said these things, while they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
1:10 And while they were watching him going up to heaven, behold, two men stood near them in white vestments.
1:11 And they said: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, shall return in just the same way that you have seen him going up to heaven.”
Second Reading
The Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians 1: 17-23
1:17 so that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give a spirit of wisdom and of revelation to you, in knowledge of him.
1:18 May the eyes of your heart be illuminated, so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and the wealth of the glory of his inheritance with the saints,
1:19 and the preeminent magnitude of his virtue toward us, toward we who believe in accord with the work of his powerful virtue,
1:20 which he wrought in Christ, raising him from the dead and establishing him at his right hand in the heavens,
1:21 above every principality and power and virtue and dominion, and above every name that is given, not only in this age, but even in the future age.
1:22 And he has subjected all things under his feet, and he has made him the head over the entire Church,
1:23 which is his body and which is the fullness of him who accomplishes everything in everyone.
Luke 24: 46- 53
24:46 And he said to them: “For so it is written, and so it was necessary, for the Christ to suffer and to rise up from the dead on the third day,
24:47 and, in his name, for repentance and the remission of sins to be preached, among all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
24:48 And you are witnesses of these things.
24:49 And I am sending the Promise of my Father upon you. But you must stay in the city, until such time as you are clothed with power from on high.”
24:50 Then he led them out as far as Bethania. And lifting up his hands, he blessed them.
24:51 And it happened that, while he was blessing them, he withdrew from them, and he was carried up into heaven.
24:52 And worshiping, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
24:53 And they were always in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.