The Ascension of the Lord

Send us Fan MailSunday, 1 June 2025 The Ascension of the Lord Antiphons on page 558 and Readings on page 563 of the Daily Missal and on page 850 of the Sunday MissalFirst Reading: Acts 1:1-11In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit  to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion  by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while stayingwith them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me, for John baptized with water,  but before many days  you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”  He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons  which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said,  “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 47:2-3.6-7.8-9R/:    God has gone up with shouts of joy. The Lord goes up with trumpet blast.All peoples clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, the great king over all the earth. God goes up with shouts of joy.The Lord goes up with trumpet blast. Sing praise for God, sing praise. Sing praise to our king; sing praise.God is king of all the earth. Sing praise with all your skill. God reigns over the nations. God sits upon his holy throne R/:    God has gone up with shouts of joy. The Lord goes up with trumpet blast.Second Reading: Ephesians 1: 17-23Gospel: Luke 24: 46-53At that time:  Jesus said to his disciples,  “Thus it is written,  that the Christ should suffer  and on the third day rise from the dead,  and that repentance and forgiveness of sins  should be preached in his name to all nations,  beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  And behold, I send 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,  and lifting up his hands he blessed them.  While he blessed them,  he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.  And they worshipped him,  and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,  and were continually in the temple blessing God.