FIRST READING A reading from the Acts of the Apostles
He was lifted up while they looked on.
Acts 1:1-11
In my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning until the day
he gave his instructions to the apostles he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. He had
shown himself alive to them after his Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days he had continued to appear to
them and tell them about the kingdom of God. When he had been at table with them, he had told them not to leave
Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised. "It is" he had said, "what you have heard me speak
about: John baptised with water but you, not many days from now, will be baptised with the Holy Spirit"
Now having met together, they asked him, "Lord, has the time come? Are yon going to restore the kingdom to
Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, but
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem
but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth."
As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring
into the sky when suddenly two men in white were standing near them and they said, "Why are you men from
Galilee standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will
come back in the same way as you have seen him go there."
SECOND READING A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood.
1Ephesians 1:17-23
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception
of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so
that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will
inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. This you can tell
from the strength of his power at work in Christ, when he used it to raise him from the dead and to
make him sit at his right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power,
or Domination, or any other name that can be named, not only in this age, but also in the age to come.
He has put all things under his feet, and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his
body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation.
THE GOSPEL A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
All authority, in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Matthew 28:16-20
The eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them.
When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke
to them. He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make
disciples of all the nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of
time."
SUNDAY READINGS 4th May 2008 The Ascension Of The Lord |
