Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (May 8, 2016)

Reading 1 and//www.usccb.org/bible/acts/1and1 ACTS 1and1-11 In the first book, Theophilus,I dealt with all that Jesus did and taughtuntil the day he was taken up,after giving instructions through the Holy Spiritto the apostles whom he had chosen.He presented himself alive to themby many proofs after he had suffered,appearing to them during forty daysand 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 Fatherabout which you have heard me speakfor 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 seasonsthat 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 heavenwill return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” Responsorial Psalm and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/47and2 PS 47and2-3, 6-7, 8-9 R. (6)God mounts his throne to shouts of joyand a blare of trumpets for the Lord. orand R.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 to shouts of joyand a blare of trumpets for the Lord. orand R.Alleluia. God mounts his throne amid shouts of joythe LORD, amid trumpet blasts.Sing praise to God, sing praisesing praise to our king, sing praise. R.God mounts his throne to shouts of joyand a blare of trumpets for the Lord. orand R.Alleluia. For king of all the earth is Godsing hymns of praise.God reigns over the nations,God sits upon his holy throne. R.God mounts his throne to shouts of joyand a blare of trumpets for the Lord. orand R.Alleluia. Reading 2 and//www.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/1:17 EPH 1:17-23 Brothers and sistersandMay the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelationresulting 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 gloryin his inheritance among the holy ones,and what is the surpassing greatness of his powerfor us who believe,in accord with the exercise of his great mightandwhich he worked in Christ,raising him from the deadand seating him at his right hand in the heavens,far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,and every name that is namednot only in this age but also in the one to come.And he put all things beneath his feetand 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. Or and//www.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/9:24 HEB 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 sanctuarywith blood that is not his ownif that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedlyfrom the foundation of the world.But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the agesto 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 sinbut to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.Therefore, brothers and sisters, since through the blood of Jesuswe have confidence of entrance into the sanctuaryby the new and living way he opened for us through the veil,that is, his flesh,and since we have Aa 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 conscienceand 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. Alleluia and//www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/28:19 MT 28:19A, 20B R.Alleluia, alleluia.Go and teach all nations, says the LordI am with you always, until the end of the world.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/luke/24:46 LK 24:46-53 Jesus said to his disciplesand Thus it is written that the Christ would sufferand rise from the dead on the third dayand that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,would be preached in his nameto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.You are witnesses of these things.And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon youbut stay in the cityuntil 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 themand was taken up to heaven.They did him homageand then returned to Jerusalem with great joy,and they were continually in the temple praising God.