Mass Readings
Acts 7: 55- 59
7:55 But he, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and gazing intently toward heaven, saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.”
7:56 Then they, crying out with a loud voice, blocked their ears and, with one accord, rushed violently toward him.
7:57 And driving him out, beyond the city, they stoned him. And witnesses placed their garments beside the feet of a youth, who was called Saul.
7:58 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
7:59 Then, having been brought to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his murder.
Revelation 22: 12- 14, 16- 17, 20
22:12 “Behold, I am approaching quickly! And my repayment is with me, to render to each one according to his works.
22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb. So may they have a right to the tree of life; so may they enter through the gates into the City.
22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent my Angel, to testify to these things for you among the Churches. I am the Root and the Origin of David, the bright morning Star.”
22:17 And the Spirit and the Bride say: “Draw near.” And whoever hears, let him say: “Draw near.” And whoever thirsts, let him draw near. And whoever is willing, let him accept the water of life, freely.
22:20 He who offers testimony to these things, says: “Even now, I am approaching quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
John 17: 20- 26
17:20 But I am not praying for them only, but also for those who through their word shall believe in me.
17:21 So may they all be one. Just as you, Father, are in me, and I am in you, so also may they be one in us: so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
17:22 And the glory that you have given to me, I have given to them, so that they may be one, just as we also are one.
17:23 I am in them, and you are in me. So may they be perfected as one. And may the world know that you have sent me and that you have loved them, just as you have also loved me.
17:24 Father, I will that where I am, those whom you have given to me may also be with me, so that they may see my glory which you have given to me. For you loved me before the founding of the world.
17:25 Father most just, the world has not known you. But I have known you. And these have known that you sent me.
17:26 And I have made known your name to them, and I will make it known, so that the love in which you have loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.”
Ascension Sunday Readings
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.
or, Hebrews 9: 24- 28, 10: 19- 23
| 9:24 | For Jesus did not enter by means of holy things made with hands, mere examples of the true things, but he entered into Heaven itself, so that he may appear now before the face of God for us. |
| 9:25 | And he did not enter so as to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters into the Holy of Holies each year, with the blood of another. |
| 9:26 | Otherwise, he would need to have suffered repeatedly since the beginning of the world. But now, one time, at the consummation of the ages, he has appeared in order to destroy sin though his own sacrifice. |
| 9:27 | And in the same manner as it has been appointed for men to die one time, and after this, to be judged, |
| 9:28 | so also Christ was offered, one time, in order to empty the sins of so many. He shall appear a second time without sin, for those who await him, unto salvation. |
| 10:19 | And so, brothers, have faith in the entrance into the Holy of Holies by the blood of Christ, |
| 10:20 | and in the new and living Way, which he has initiated for us by the veil, that is, by his flesh, |
| 10:21 | and in the Great Priest over the house of God. |
| 10:22 | So, let us draw near with a true heart, in the fullness of faith, having hearts cleansed from an evil conscience, and bodies absolved with clean water. |
| 10:23 | Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope, without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. |
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.