Ascension Day (Year B)
First Reading - Acts 1.3-11
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
After his suffering
and death,
Jesus
presented himself alive
to the apostles,
with many
convincing proofs,
appearing to them
during forty days,
and speaking
of the kingdom of God.
Jesus said to them,
‘Do not
leave Jerusalem,
but wait here
for all that is promised
by the Father.
John baptised with water,
but you will be
baptised
with the Holy Spirit
not many days from now.’
The apostles
asked Jesus, ‘Lord, is this the time
when you will restore
the kingdom of Israel?’
Jesus replied, ‘You cannot know
every time or season
in the purposes
of the Father.
But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit
comes upon you.
And you will be my witnesses
in Jerusalem, in all Judea,
in Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.’
Then, as they were watching,
he was taken up,
and a cloud
hid him
from their sight.
And as they looked intently
into the sky,
two figures in white robes appeared,
saying, ‘Men of Galilee,
why do you stand here
looking into the sky?
This Jesus
has been
taken up
from you
into heaven,
and will return
in the same way
you saw him go.’
This is the word of the Lord.
Second Reading - Revelation 5.5a,6a,7-13
A reading from the book of Revelation.
Looking like a lamb
that has been slain,
and is alive again,
the one who is
the Lion of Judah, and the root of David, took
the scroll
from the one who was
seated on the throne.
The four living creatures, and the twenty-four elders,
holding musical instruments,
and golden bowls
of fragrant offerings of incense
(which are the prayers of the saints),
fell down before the Lamb,
and sang: ‘You are worthy,
for you were slain,
and by your blood
you have restored to God
a people to serve
as a royal priesthood on earth
from every nation, tribe, and language.’
Then I heard thousands of angels,
all around the throne,
with the living creatures, and the elders,
singing in full voice: ‘Worthy
is the Lamb that was slain,
to receive
all wisdom and power,
all glory and honour and praise!’
Then I heard every creature
in heaven and on earth,
and under the earth, and in the sea,
singing to the one who was seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, ‘Blessing and honour
and glory and power,
be yours for ever and ever!’
This is the word of the Lord.
Gospel - Mark 16.15-16a,19-20
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Mark.
Jesus said to the disciples,
‘Go into all the world,
and proclaim the good news
to the whole creation.
And all who believe, and are baptised,
will be saved.’
Then the Lord Jesus,
after he had spoken to them,
was taken up into heaven,
and sat down
at the right hand of God.
And the disciples went out
and proclaimed the good news
everywhere.
And the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the message
by the signs
that accompanied it.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.