Hymns for Mass – Press Here

FIRST READING (As the Apostles were looking on, Jesus was taken up.)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (1:1-11)

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.” —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9)

R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. (Ps 47:6)

Or 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 amid shouts of joy; the Lord, amid trumpet blasts. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise. (R)

For king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise. God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne. (R)

SECOND READING (God seated Jesus at his right hand in the heaven.)

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians (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 Christ’s 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. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

Or

SECOND READING (Christ has entered into heaven itself.)

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (9:24-28; 10:19-23)

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. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (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)

GOSPEL (As he blessed them, he was taken up to heaven.)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (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 to 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. —The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayers

Celebrant: When Jesus, our risen Savior, ascended into heaven, angels reminded his disciples that he would come back again. Until he comes, one way that we continue his work is through praying for all peoples and their needs.

READER: That the Church will always keep to her evangelical mission of making disciples of all nations, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: That world leaders may understand that they must give an account of their work to Christ Jesus when he returns as our judge, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: That no one will be so attached to this earth as to regret being called to eternal life in heaven, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: That we may all come to the maturity of faith in the fullness of the risen Christ, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For all the members of our community, living and deceased, as well as for all those who have asked for our prayers, that the Lord bless them all with grace, courage, light and peace, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

CELEBRANT: God our Father in heaven, your Son is now seated at your right hand, enthroned in eternal glory. We make our petitions through him, who lives and reigns, for ever and ever. (all) AMEN.