Ascension Day (Year C)
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 - Ephesians 1.17-23
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians.
The power of God
has raised Christ
from the dead,
to God’s right hand on high,
far above all earthly powers -
above every other name,
in this world, or the next.
God has made Christ
the head of the church;
and has made the church
the body of Christ.
So now may your hearts be filled
with the same power of God, which is
the gift of God
to all who believe.
May your hearts be filled
with all the glorious riches
that God gives to you, and to all the saints;
and with confidence
for the future
to which God has called you.
And may the God of glory,
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
give you a spirit of wisdom
and insight,
that you may continue to grow
in the knowledge of God.
This is the word of the Lord.
Gospel - Luke 24.44-53
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Luke.
Jesus opened the minds of the disciples
to understand the scriptures, saying to them:
‘Everything that is written about me,
in the law of Moses, in the prophets,
and in the psalms, must be fulfilled:
that the Messiah must suffer,
and rise from the dead on the third day;
and then repentance, and forgiveness,
will be proclaimed, to all nations,
in his name, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses to these things.
And now I am sending you
the gift that my Father promised;
so stay here in the city
until you have been clothed with power from on high.’
Then he led them out of Jerusalem
to Bethany,
and there, lifting up his hands,
he blessed them.
And while he was blessing them,
he withdrew from them,
and was taken up into heaven.
And they worshipped him.
They returned to Jerusalem
filled with joy.
And they were continually in the temple,
praising God.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.